Edited by: TJVNews.com

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s recent visits to upstate New York to confer with Orthodox Jewish leaders have raised eyebrows and sparked discussions about his political strategy, as was recently reported in the New York Post. McCarthy’s multiple trips to engage with Orthodox Jewish leaders reflect his keen interest in maintaining the razor-thin majority held by House Republicans, particularly in swing districts. The Post report added that these visits are part of McCarthy’s broader effort to strengthen the GOP’s standing in regions where the party’s fortunes have been on the rise, even as he seeks to establish common ground with leaders of a different faith.

McCarthy’s outreach to Orthodox Jewish leaders is underscored by his belief that there are shared values between devout Baptists like himself and the Orthodox Jewish community, according to the Post report. He points to common ground on issues such as freedom, family, and religious liberty as reasons for their rapport. McCarthy recognizes that these values resonate with voters in upstate New York and could make a difference in elections, the report added.

“We have a lot in common, when you think about it,” McCarthy, 58, said of his rapport with leading rabbis. “The more they look at the policies Republicans have with freedom, and family, and freedom of religion I think it’s making a difference, especially in upstate,“ as was reported in the Post.

One notable visit took place just days before the 2022 midterm elections when McCarthy traveled to New Square, a Hasidic village in Rockland County, to meet with 82-year old Rabbi David Twersky. The Post report indicated that at the time, Rabbi Twersky was supporting Democrat Sean Patrick Maloney. McCarthy made a last-minute appeal for the rabbi’s support, emphasizing the importance of his endorsement.

In subsequent visits, McCarthy continued to engage with Rabbi Twersky, with a particularly memorable gesture in July when he sent a heartfelt letter to mark the wedding of Twersky’s granddaughter, the Post report said. The speaker expressed his deep appreciation for the rabbi’s guidance and wisdom in shaping the young woman’s life.

“Your guidance and wisdom have undoubtedly played a significant role in shaping your granddaughter’s life and guiding her to this moment,” the speaker wrote, according to the Post report.

McCarthy’s outreach also extended to the Hasidic community in Monticello, Sullivan County, during a fundraiser for Rep. Marc Molinaro. The event was hosted by the Tzedek Association, led by Rabbi Moshe Margaretten, a politically influential figure in the community, according to the Post report. Margaretten spoke highly of McCarthy’s kindness and positivity during his visit, emphasizing the speaker’s longstanding support for Jewish values.

“He (McCarthy) was extremely kind and he was very positive and we know the speaker is a friend of the Jewish community. For many years he has supported our values and it was a great honor for us to meet him,” Rabbi Margaretten said, as was reported by the Post.

The significance of these visits lies in the demographics of the Orthodox Jewish community in these regions. The Post report observed that while secular Jews are known to be a reliable Democratic voting bloc, the rapidly-growing Hasidic population tends to lean more conservative. In the 2022 elections, both County Executive Ed Day Lawler and Rep. Marc Molinaro narrowly defeated their Democratic opponents, securing victory by a small margin of votes. According to the Post report, McCarthy’s efforts to connect with Orthodox Jewish leaders appear to have contributed to these victories.

House Democratic Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries has also recognized the political importance of engaging with religious Jews. In June, he held a meeting in the Satmar Jewish enclave of Kiryas Joel, meeting with spiritual leader Aaron Teitelbaum, the Post reported. This demonstrates the competitive nature of these districts and the recognition by both parties of the Orthodox Jewish community’s influence.

Looking ahead to the 2024 elections, McCarthy remains confident that the Orthodox community will continue to support the GOP. The Post reported that he also took the opportunity to criticize some liberal Democrats for making virulently anti-Semitic comments, referring specifically to Rep. Ilhan Omar’s past remarks about Jews, which led to her removal from the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

“Hakeem can run for them but what is he going to do but apologize for his other members for their antiSemitism?” McCarthy said, referring to liberal Dems like Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar, who was ousted from her seat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee over past remarks about Jews, the Post reported. “What do you do when they just attack the Jewish faith and the comments they make? It’s really appalling.”

As political dynamics continue to evolve, the Orthodox Jewish community’s role in shaping electoral outcomes in these regions is likely to remain a significant factor in future elections.