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Oct. 18 to 31, 2024 16 Tishrei, 5785 • Sukkot Vol. 23, No. 36

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Rivals in toss-up district back Israel: Dem is cautious, Republican is firm Laura Gillen says: I am not an expert

Anthony D’Esposito says: Take out nukes

Juan Lasso for The Jewish Star

Tim Baker for The Jewish Star

By Ed Weintrob, The Jewish Star The tens of millions of dollars in nasty TV commercials haven’t mentioned Israel or antisemitism, but to many voters in Nassau County’s 4th Congressional District those are the issues that will determine how they vote. The contest between one-term incumbent Republican Anthony D’Esposito and Democrat Laura Gillen, the former Town of Hempstead Supervisor, is considered a toss-up, which is why both parties have committed massive resources to each race. D’Esposito defeated Gillen two years ago, 51.8 to 48.2 percent. In 2020, Joe Biden carried the district, 55.6 to 43.4 percent, as incumbent Democratic Rep. Kathleen Rice defeated Republican Douglas Truman by a similar margin. Both Gillen and D’Esposito told The Jewish Star they are strongly committed to Israel as well as to the fight against antisemitism in the United States. But during separate interviews in the newspaper’s offices in Garden City last week, they voiced the extent of their resolve in different ways. This is how Gillen responded when asked if she would give “a blank check to Israel to continue its fight in Gaza, in Lebanon, and ultimately in Iran itself”:

“This is the time to stand strong in the face of Iranian aggression. In terms of what kind of a check that would look like, obviously it would be something that would have to be voted on in Congress.” Asked if she agrees with President Biden’s expressed opposition to an Israeli strike on the Iranian nuclear reactor or its oil port, she suggested that she didn’t know enough to say. “I am not an expert on military actions, neither is my opponent, and I think you have to have full briefings on what the strategic and the geopolitical impacts of certain attacks would be,” she said. “I don’t think it’s appropriate for someone who doesn’t have access to that information to commit to voting for one action or the other.” D’Esposito said his position is that the US “needs to continue to provide every resource necessary to Israel to eradicate Hamas and any terrorist organization or terrorist proxy of Iran.” Israel’s next step “should be to take out Iran’s nuclear capabilities,” he said. Both candidates blamed Hamas for the war and the lives lost since Oct. 7. Referring to the death toll in Gaza, Gillen said, “We don’t want to see innocent people die. HowSee Rivals in toss-up district on page 18

What’s Sukkot all about? Bringing Jews together From Heart of Jerusalem

RABBI BINNY FREEDMAN

Jewish Star columnist Originally published in 2011. om Kippur was over, and with Sukkot around the corner, I realized I had no way to get a set of four species in time for the festival.

We were stationed in Lebanon, and the thought of having no set of arbah minim was really depressing. Somehow, I managed to rearrange the officers’ duty-roster, leaving me an 18-hour window, and convinced my CO that I could make it to Jerusalem and back in time to cover the next patrol. All told, I ended up in Jerusalem for about three hours, which was enough to pick up a beautiful compact set of arbah minim, as well as some pizza for lunch, and ended up spending a good 15

hours in travel. The challenge of keeping my lulav undamaged and kosher while hitchhiking in a variety of small cars was not simple, but I made it back to base with my arbah minim intact. All of which gave me a different level of appreciation for the mitzvah that particular year. So on the morning of Sukkot, just back from patrol, I found myself alone in what passed for the synagogue in our base (half a caravan with a 105mm. shell-crate as an ark (with no Torah in it), a couple of benches, and a few dusty prayer books).

It was too hot to pray inside, so I stepped outside and, facing south towards Jerusalem, continued my prayers. There is a point in the Hallel which really hit me: “Ma’ Ashiv La’Hashem? (What have I to give back to G-d?)” here are moments in life when you appreciate the gifts you have been given. In the middle of a war zone, with men getting killed or injured every day, and the number of close calls and near misses too many to count, See Finding purpose in unity on page 18