We urge readers in New York’s 6th Congressional District to vote for New York State Assemblyman Rory Lancman in the June 26 Democratic primary. The 6th district includes the Queens neighborhoods of Flushing, Murray Hill, Crocheron Park, East Flushing, Auburndale, Bayside, Bayside Hills, Kissena Park, Elmhurst, Pomonok, Utopia, Fresh Meadows, Oakland Gardens, Rego Park, Kew Gardens Hills, Middle Village, Forest Hills, Hillcrest, Briarwood, Ridgewood, Glendale and Jamaica Hills.
In an extensive interview with The Jewish Press, Mr. Lancman impressed us as someone we would like to see in Congress voting on issues important to the Jewish community. He displayed a deep understanding of the nature of Israel’s struggle with its neighbors and why it’s important, for both Israeli and American interests, that the United States “tilt” toward Israel.
He committed himself to pursuing U.S. support for Israel in the UN and its agencies and other international organizations. And he showed a deep appreciation for the Jewish people’s historic presence in the Land of Israel, including the West Bank and all of Jerusalem, which he endorsed as “the eternal capital of Israel,” noting that “when Jerusalem was divided, Jews could not pray at our holiest sites” and that “no other capital city in the world has its status questioned.”
He added that the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv should be moved to Jerusalem and the State Department should allow U.S. citizens born in Jerusalem to list Israel as their place of birth on their passports.
On the domestic scene, Mr. Lancman expressed his strong support for tuition equity for parochial school education and vowed to support legislation requiring accommodation to religious needs in such relatively new problem areas as the public display of mezuzahs and the construction of sukkahs. He noted that as an attorney he has represented individuals who faced these and related problems.
In sum, Rory Lancman is someone we would be very comfortable with in Washington; someone who can be counted on to do the right thing.