October 18, 2010--Pastrami On Rye

GOP New York gubernatorial candidate Carl Palidino's favorite restaurant in Buffalo is Sinatra's; but when he goes to Brooklyn and hangs out in the orthodox Jewish community in search of support, he had better forget linguine and think pastrami. especially when talking about gays.

Two Sundays ago he met with Rabbi Yehuda Levin and in front of his congregation and TV cameras spoke about how children should be protected from being "brainwashed" into thinking homosexuality is acceptable. The rabbi and his flock smiled and nodded in agreement. Not all Jews, they were clearly saying, are as socially liberal as one might think. Among the ultra-orthodox, homosexuality is considered to be an "abomination." Forget civil unions and marriage, sodomites are, they claim, among God's most despised.

But as Palidono came away from pandering for these swing votes he quickly realized that he had stepped in it. He was immediately excoriated by all media and especially by independent-minded voters who though they might be attracted to his anti-tax, tell-it-like-it-is gruffness (in contrast to the super-managed, super-cool Andrew Cuomo), are more libertarian minded than he.

So he apologized. He said he should have chosen his words more carefully and pledged that he would fight "for all gay New Yorkers."

When Rabbi Levin heard this aplology, he went after Paladino tooth and claw. According to the New York Times he asked, "Which part of your speech are you apologizing for? Will we see you next year with your daughter in the gay pride march?" (Article linked below.)

The rabbi has a way with stories. He recounted how he learned about Paladino's apology. "I was in the middle of eating a kosher pastrami sandwich. While I was eating it, they come running and they say, 'Paladino became gay!' I said, 'What?' And then they showed me the statement. I almost choked on the kosher salami."

Now, as a Jewish boy growing up in Brooklyn I know my pastrami and no one, I mean no one, would eat a pastrami and salami sandwich. Any self-respecting Jew would not mix these meats. Pastrami is pastrami and salami is salami.

But the rabbi is a forgiving man. He left the door open for a rapprochement--"Come back Carl," he said, "We'll leave the light on for you."

"And," he might have added, "When you do come back, bring me a corn beef on rye."