Cruz Courts Orthodox Jewish Voters During Visit To Brighton Beach

Presidential candidate Ted Cruz campaigned in Brighton Beach Thursday in an effort to woo Brooklyn’s Orthodox Jewish voters ahead of the New York primary.

Cruz’s black Lincoln Navigator rolled into the driveway of the Chabad Neshama Center, located at 2997 Ocean Parkway, just after 4:30pm. He spent about 20 minutes with children there participating in Passover traditions like matzo-making and singing the “Dayenu.”

Here’s a video of Cruz putting holes in his matzo:

After he wrapped things up at the bakery, Cruz got back in his car and drove less than half a block to the Jewish Center of Brighton Beach for a meeting with community leaders, where he spoke about issues related to Israel’s security, according to people who attended.

“He expressed his willingness to tear up the nuclear deal with Iran on his first day in office. That got strong, strong applause,” said Rabbi Zev Reichman, who represents a congregation in New Jersey and is program director at Manhattan’s Yeshiva University.

The Texas senator’s pit stop in Brooklyn, which literally took place in the shadow of his GOP rival since it was across the street from Trump Village, went much smoother than his visit to another borough the day before. Cruz had reportedly been heckled in the Bronx for his criticism of “New York values” and his strong anti-immigration stance.

Instead, Cruz was greeted with shouts of “Jews for Cruz!” when he visited Brighton Beach.

Although the latest Quinnipiac poll shows Cruz trailing Republican frontrunner Donald Trump in the New York primaries by 36 points, there are still opportunities here for Cruz to advance toward the GOP nomination.

As writer Katie Glueck observed in an article published on Politico, although there are 95 delegates at stake in the New York primary, 81 are awarded by results in congressional districts. Cruz could peel away some of the those delegates by appealing to Orthodox Jewish voters.

Glueck writes:

“Orthodox Jews tend to be more conservative than their predominantly liberal, more secular co-religionists, and are more likely to appreciate Cruz’s conservative message on social issues and, in particular, on religious freedom.

There’s also common ground on national security, particularly when it comes to Israel. Cruz first came onto the Orthodox radar in a significant way in 2014, when attendees at a Middle Eastern Christian conference, at which he was speaking, began to boo Israel. “If you will not stand with Israel and the Jews, then I will not stand with you,” he said, remarks that went viral in the Orthodox world.”

Former State Senator David Storobin, who invited Cruz to visit Brighton Beach, said he fell into the Cruz camp after hearing about the senator’s response at the Middle Eastern Christian conference.

“For Russian Jews who came to the United States, half or three quarters of their family went to Israel. So Israel is not foreign policy to them. Israel is just where their brother lives or their father or their grandmother,” he explained.

Storobin also said it was encouraging Cruz would visit southern Brooklyn, which he said is often overlooked by presidential candidates.

“I can’t think of another presidential candidate who has come to this neck of the woods.Sheepshead Bay and Brighton Beach get forgotten all the time,” he said. “So it’s very exciting to have someone who may become president come here and find out what the issues are.”

However, not all community leaders were excited about Cruz’s visit to Brighton Beach. City Councilman Mark Treyger, a Democrat who represents the neighboring community of Coney Island, wrote on Facebook that Cruz had “a lot of nerve” to campaign is southern Brooklyn.

“Disappointed to learn that Ted Cruz is visiting Brighton Beach today. Southern Brooklyn communities were some of the hardest hit areas by Superstorm Sandy. We will never forget his vote AGAINST Sandy relief for NY!” Treyger wrote.

Treyger also called out Cruz for voting against the Zadroga Act, which provides medical coverage for people with 9/11-related health problems.

Chris McCreight, Democratic state committee candidate for the 46th Assembly District, which includes part of Brighton Beach, said in a press release that Cruz’s visit seemed like a “sick joke.”

“After Hurricane Sandy, Ted Cruz told Brighton Beach, Coney Island, and Sea Gate to drop dead,” McCreight said. “His visit today was a slap in the face to our entire community.”