Hewlett United for Israel: get out and vote

In response to an increase in anti-Jewish activity over at least the past five years, Hewlett resident Jay Saltzman launched Hewlett United For Israel — a nonpartisan grass roots organization that supports Israel as a United States ally.

The group created in June is nearing 50 members, Saltzman said, and he aims for Hewlett United to work to elect representatives that are pro-Israel, care about the Jewish community and will stand against antisemitism.

Because the group is still new, Saltzman’s immediate priorities are to grow membership and raise awareness. 

“The goal is to get our community more involved,” he said, speaking at the Chabad of Hewlett on Aug. 14, which was the first public appearance for the new group. “There is a huge potential here in our community,” Saltzman added. “We have an Israeli community, we have a Russian community, we have an American community, it’s all a Jewish community and there is a lot of potential power in our community.”

The First Hewlett United for Israel event was held on the morning of Aug. 14 at Chabad House of Hewlett, at 24 Everit Avenue in Hewlett. There, Five Towns native Josh Lent spoke about Im Tirtzu — a grass roots organization that fights anti-Israel propaganda for which Lent is the Director of External Relations.

Though not affiliated with the Chabad, Rabbi Nochem Tenenboim endorsed the concept of Hewlett United. He said he is happy to see people showing compassion for other and considers the group “extremely important.”

“Especially when Israel is under attack, as we just saw a few week ago,” Tenenboim said. “As someone who lives here and grew up in Israel and has family there, I have seen how critical the Israeli-American relationship is and I can’t exaggerate its importance. Anything that can strengthen that relationship is important. Especially when we see extremists trying to do the exact opposite.”    

Lent spoke about Im Tirtzu's work fighting the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement. He also spoke about anti-Zionism in Israel and how anti-Jewish propaganda makes its way to America, directly impacting Hewlett.

“The way to exercise that power in the American system is to vote, and it’s not a joke and we’ve actually seen this very recently and in fact this week,” Saltzman went on to reference the Michigan primary earlier in August. “National organizations remained on the sidelines in Minnesota. Have our community active and activated we are not losing by 2 percent. We’ll win and we’ll win big, but we have to be active. Not time to sit on our hands, here, it’s time to get moving.”

He told the Herald that Hewlett United For Israel anticipates being politically active by endorsing a Congressional District 4 candidate in the general election. On Tuesday, a primary decided the Democratic candidate. Town of Hempstead Councilman Anthony D’Esposito is the Republican nominee.

Saltzman said the group is using Facebook to reach existing and new members. “For a three-month old organization we are growing quickly,” he said, adding that there are plans for a website. “We are planning to have other community events like the one (on Aug. 14). We would like to host a debate on this issue but have not yet reached out to any (potential) candidates.”