“Please Stop Attacking Our Community,” Agudath Israel Urges on Billboards Throughout Manhattan

By Yehudit Garmaise

Last month, as the New York Times continued its seemingly never-ending series of articles about New York City’s Chassidic community, Agudath Israel officials first tried meeting with the paper’s editors.

When the Times’ editors ignored the reasonable pleas of Agudah officials, Agudah’s next step was to buy ads to post on billboards in locations around Manhattan, such as outside the Lincoln Tunnel, in Times Square, and on a building next to the Times’ headquarters.

 “We tried diplomacy, and we hope to continue that, but after the meeting last month was unsuccessful, the decision was made to take this to the next level, to try to set the record straight," Agudah’s chief of staff, Avrohom Weinstock told Hamodia.

“The message is not only to the Times,” Weinstock said, “There’s a broader message to other publications: to think critically about what the Times is writing, look at KnowUs.org, evaluate the information, think about whether it is true and how it will impact us – as well as to the man on the street, and even to ourselves.”

Locals echo the billboards’ urgent plea to “Please stop attacking our community.”

“The 13 articles in 13 weeks the Times has published reveals their reporters’ and editors’ strange obsession with us,” said Eli, a Boro Park resident. “They won’t stop. With each new article, we feel like ‘Enough is enough,’ but despite our protests, the NY Times’ reports on us get worse each time.

“The New York Times seems to seek glory by defaming us. We are grateful that Agudah stepped up to fight back.”