Moving to Great Neck in 1969 was an easy decision. Its fabulous schools, as well as its cultural, athletic and religious reputation were nationally known. Name another town who even had their own symphony?
Over the next 30 years, we were involved in so many local issues. In Great Neck, we prided ourself in the fact that all of them should be discussed, every policy deserved our scrutiny and every elected official knew that we would be watching their every move.
From the park district and the superintendent of schools to the zoning board and our local village officials, no one was “off-limits”.
But all that ended two weeks ago when the Great Neck Synagogue canceled the appearance of Pamela Geller.
Over the years, we, in Great Neck, debated all sorts of sensitive issues. Low income housing, school busing, school closings, anti-Semitism, racism and discrimination all came under our watchful eye. You name it, we discussed it. If we witnessed it, we acted on it. The list was endless. We even had an opinion on who had the best “burger” in town? Millie’s or Violette’s? It was a simple concept, the first amendment applies to everyone, no exceptions.
Unfortunately, some Great Neck residents have forgotten our long history of tolerance. They not only publicly vilified the controversial activist, Pamela Geller, but, more importantly, they pressured The Great Neck Synagogue into actually rescinding her invitation to speak. Great Neck, this was not our finest hour.
The two issues involved here are quite distinct and separate. The first is Pamela Geller’s constitutionally guaranteed First Amendment right to speak. This applies whether you agree with her or not. Period! No exceptions! The second, of course, is the actual issues involved.
Inviting controversial speakers to appear at our houses of worship is not new. We have been doing this for years. Even our own religious leaders themselves have actively taken positions on the current social Issues of the day. To pick Pamela Geller out and cancel her, is a disgrace.
And to those of you, who do not agree with her, but have never heard her speak, wasn’t this the perfect opportunity to hear her for yourself? What a setting. A beautiful Sunday morning, The Chabad of Great Neck was packed with hundreds and hundreds of your neighbors and friends.
The lesson you taught your children and grandchildren was quite clear: Silencing those you disagree with is perfectly okay!!
Had you attended, you would have heard Pamela Geller say: 1- radical Islam is the problem, not the Muslim religion. 2- Sharia law, with its denigration and humiliation of women, must never be incorporated into our own judicial system.and 3- hatred of Jews and the destruction of Israel is a basic tenant of radical Islam. Do these statements justify preventing her from speaking? Absolutely not !
Sitting in the first row and listening to Pamela Geller, perhaps for the first time, was none other than Rabbi Polakoff of Great Neck Synagogue, who, unfortunately, had succumbed to enormous political pressure and cancelled her appearance to speak at his own synagogue. He was introduced and his mere presence sent a clear message to everyone there: 1- I came here to judge Pamela Geller for myself. And 2- the First Amendment must always be safeguarded. By showing up, I now view him in a totally different light. I may not agree with him but I respect his courage, conviction and honesty.
Conspicuously absent was Rabbi Michael White of Temple Sinai of Roslyn Heights, Great Neck’s Rabbi Jerome Davidson of Temple Beth-El, and the others who fought to silence Pamela Geller.
By actually attending this great event, they could have opened up a serious dialogue, not one based on rumors, distortions and lies, It certainly was a missed opportunity.
And now, accolades must be given to the true hero of the day, a man who “did the right thing” and restored Great Neck’s wonderful reputation.
Thanks must go to one of our most fearless community leaders, Rabbi Yoseph Geisinsky of the Chabad of Great Neck.
In spite of his own severe health issues as well as the immense political pressure leveled against him, he opened his “house” to ensure the free dialogue of these issues,
Great Neck again came through with flying colors. But it took a while.
Dr. Stephen Morris
North Hills
Great Neck resident
1969-1999
