Don’t Kvetch – Votes!
A campaign aimed at mobilizing Jewish voters for the June 24 primary, which includes mayoral candidates, is set to launch a substantial $500,000 advertising initiative across television and social media. This effort aims to enhance voter turnout in the context of increasing anti-Semitism.
The advertising spot, titled “Hate Crimes,” emphasizes that the safety and security of the Jewish community is at stake this June. It features alarming statistics regarding a rise in hate crimes targeting local Jewish individuals, along with footage of attacks on Jews in Brooklyn.
Scheduled to commence on Monday, this ad, exclusively obtained by the Post, is funded by Jewish voters themselves.
Viewers can expect to see these ads on networks like Fox News Channel, CNN, NY1, and News 12, along with streaming platforms such as YouTube, Hulu, Roku, Spotify, and Pandora. Additionally, it will be featured on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and X.
This advertising effort is a component of a broader initiative called “voting is how we fight back,” supported by Jewish Unite. The group, led by Jewish activist Maury Litwack, operates with a volunteer base of 700 and more than 12 paid staff members.
Litwack remarked, “This is a crucial moment for the Jewish community. This community feels the effects of anti-Semitism.” He stresses that this primary election presents a chance for action, asserting that Jewish voters will play a significant role.
Jewish Unite is preparing to open a fourth office in Central Queens, joining existing locations on the east and west sides of Brooklyn and Manhattan. They distribute items like hats, cups, and wristbands with the message “Don’t kvetch, just vote.”
While the group maintains a nonpartisan stance and does not endorse specific candidates, Litwack has been openly critical of American democratic socialists. Last year, he led a campaign that encouraged Jewish voter participation in Westchester County, which contributed to George Latimer’s electoral success against Jamal Bowman in the Democratic primary.
The Democratic Socialists of America organized an anti-Israel rally in Times Square shortly after the tragic attacks by Hamas on October 7, 2023, which claimed 1,200 lives.
Consequently, a significant turnout from Jewish voters could be pivotal against candidates like the DSA’s Zohran Mamdani, who has supported boycotts and sanctions against Israel and participated in anti-Israel protests. Conversely, a strong Jewish voter presence could bolster frontrunners among Democratic mayoral candidates, including former Governor Andrew Cuomo and current City Council members like Scott Stringer and Brad Lander.
The campaign also targets voters in northern New Jersey, where there’s a substantial Jewish population crucial for upcoming competitive races in both the Democratic and Republican parties.
“We aim to reach all Jewish voters,” Litwack stated.
Furthermore, the Jewish Voters Action Network, an independent group led by Litwack, successfully registered nearly 7,000 Jewish residents of New York City as Democrats ahead of the June mayoral primary. Notably, over 4,130 of these new registrants were either previously independent or affiliated with other parties.
