By New York Post (U.S.) | Created at 2024-11-16 17:27:21 | Updated at 2024-11-22 10:03:32
5 days ago
Hizzoner is seeking a Hail Mary in the unlikeliest of places.
Mayor Eric Adams has visited the Queens burial site of the late Chabad Lubavitch leader Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson at least twice since being indicted on public corruption charges in September, insiders said.
Most recently, the devout Pentecostal Christian schlepped to Montefiore Cemetery in Springfield Gardens, shortly past midnight Tuesday for what one witness described as a “low-key visit.”
The mayor was “deeply engrossed” and “focused on his prayers” — insisting he was there strictly for Schneerson, 92, who died in 1994 and some followers believe to be the Messiah.
Witnesses told The Post that visitors asked to take photos with the mayor, who declined, saying, “It’s about the Rebbe.”
He also visited on Oct 1, the day before Rosh Hashanah, and six days after his indictment, sources said.
Since June 2021, Adams is known to have visited the site at least six times. The mayor — who faces an uphill re-election battle — has allegedly made “many more” late-night visits to Schneerson’s gravesite which went unreported, insiders said.
The most recent jaunts — which were not listed on the mayor’s public schedule – were leaked to only niche Orthodox Jewish media.
“I think he’s a political animal, and I think everything he does is calculated,” said WABC-AM radio host Sid Rosenberg, who has considered Adams a “friend” for years and routinely has him on his conservative talk show.
“I think he does what’s going to help him politically and financially. That’s who he is,” he added.
“Before his trial and his second run for mayor, he’s hanging out at the grave of the rabbi? Coincidence? I don’t think so.”
Republican Curtis Sliwa, who lost his 2021 mayoral bid to Adams and plans to run again next year, called Adams a “political chameleon” trying to solicit sympathy from Jews.
“He needs a Hail Mary pass – whether it’s the spiritual or [a pardon] from Donald Trump,” he added. “There’s no doubt he’s trying everything to avoid going to jail.”
Orthodox Jewish Councilman Kalman Yeger (D-Brooklyn) insisted the visits are sincere, and show the mayor’s spiritual side.
“I definitely don’t think it’s fake or political,” said Yeger, whose district includes Borough Park and many other heavily concentrated Jewish communities.
“I think he’s always had a strong connection to the Rebbe’s neighborhood [in Crown Heights] and Hasidim” going back decades to when Adams was a state senator, added Yeger. “It isn’t that strange to me that he goes there for strength, inspiration, prayer, whatever. People go for different reasons.”
Adams famously claimed God delivered him a divine message three decades ago that they’d be mayor on Jan. 1, 2022 — the day he took office.
Hank Sheinkopf, a longtime Democratic political consultant, agreed with Yeger, saying he believes Adams is seeking help from a higher power.
“He’s in trouble; he’s a religious guy, and he’s going to pray,” Sheinkopf said. “And it doesn’t hurt that Jews throughout the world hold the Chabad Rebbe in blessed memory.”
The gravesite, known by observers as “The Ohel,” Hebrew for “tent” or “house,” draws about a million visitors yearly, including plenty of other pols. Among them are Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) who made an Election Day guest appearance last week and President-elect Donald Trump, who came on the first anniversary of Hamas’ October 7,2023 terrorist attack on Israel.
“Some come to pray; some come to pay respects; some seek answers; some to be inspired,” said Chabad spokesperson Rabbi Motti Seligson.
“People will come halfway around the world just to spend a few hours there.”
Adams’ reps said the visits are kosher.
“Mayor Adams has visited the site numerous times over numerous years to pay respects and seek inspiration in his private capacity,” said spokesperson Kayla Mamelak.
“As mayor of the city with the largest Jewish population in the world outside of Israel, Mayor Adams honors many of the traditions of Judaism.”
But ex-City Comptroller Scott Stringer said Adams shouldn’t expect Hizzoner’s sagging approval ratings to improve because of the visits.
“I’ve been told that God has informed him that he’s not getting a second term,” quipped Stringer, who is Jewish and plans to challenge Adams in the Democratic mayoral primary next year.
