With 8 days to go till election day, Democratic mayoral candidate Bill Thompson made the round, once again, in the Orthodox Jewish community in Brooklyn. As the Orthodox Jewish vote is starting to play a major role in this year’s competitive race, Mr. Thompson visited, Monday night, prominent Rabbis of different Hasidic sects to receive a blessing and discuss the issues that matter most to the community.

Accompanied by Williamsburg community leaders, Mr. Thompson paid a visit to the home of the Viener Ruv who started the meeting by saying, “We need a good mayor.” The candidate also visited the Pupa Rebbe and the Satmar Rebbe (R’ Zalmen), who represent two communities with a substantial amount of Households in the neighborhood of Williamsburg.

The visits at Satmar and Pupa were held behind closed doors.

At a stop in Borough Park, Mr. Thompson visited the Munkatcher Rebbe.. The Rebbe of Munkatch is one of the prominent and respected leaders in the Hasidic community. The two discussed the practice of Metzitzah B’Peh in length, with the Rebbe pleading to leave the traditional ritual go on.

“The Jewish law forces us to reckon with any health danger. This became the number one, number ten and number thousand’ issue for the community,” the Rebbe said. “You stand with us on this issue and G-d will stand with you.”

(Jacob Kornbluh)