Councilman Antonio Reynoso Visits Eichler’s, Speaks with Hundreds of Shoppers on 13th Avenue

By Yehudit Garmaise

   In a borough that 700,000 Jews call home, Councilman Antonio Reynoso, who is running for Brooklyn Borough President, knows where to see and be seen.

   On 13th Avenue, Councilman Reynoso took a walk on Tuesday afternoon to introduce himself to hundreds of shoppers and to meet with local business owners.

   “Councilman Reynoso wanted to speak to people, connect with locals, and wish us a happy holiday,” said one Boro Parker who was on 13th Avenue yesterday.

   One shop where Mr. Reynoso was warmly welcomed was Eichler’s, where owner Mordy Getz gave him a tour of his bookstore, which he calls, “the Home Depot of Judaica.”

   A ba’al chesed, a philanthropist, and an activist, Mr. Getz, late last year, gave groceries for six months to every woman in Boro Park who lost her husband to COVID.

   As Boro Parkers drifted into Eichler’s to do their Yom Tov shopping, Councilman Reynoso asked Mr. Getz whether he saw the impact of the 1.8 trillion federal stimulus that Congress just passed and President Biden signed on March 11.

  “I told him that the stimulus has been a lifesaver,” said Mr. Getz, who discussed with Councilman Reynoso the intense emotional and financial distress so many have suffered throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.      

   As he schmoozed with Boro Parkers, Councilman Reynoso, who has represented parts of Chassidic Williamsburg for years, said that he has “a history of fighting for religious freedom and of standing up for communities.”

  Many in the community report that Antonio Reynoso is a staunch supporter of the Jewish community in New York City, and he has allocated funds to much-needed community organizations.

   “He is a uniter,” Mr. Getz said when asked to describe Councilman Reynoso.

   Councilman Reynoso praised Mr. Getz, who is also a landlord, for forgiving several months of rent, which he later discounted by 30%, for an African-American tenant in Harlem, who had a particularly tough year: not just throughout COVID, but in one month that brought two sets of intruders that committed acts of vandalism to his business.

   “It is so important for the different communities in New York to unite,” Councilman Reynoso said to Mr. Getz.

  While looking at Eichler’s colorful kippas, matzah covers, and seforim, Councilman Reynoso, who Mr. Getz said was “amazed at the richness of Jewish culture and the seder table,” asked about the five things that we put on the seder plate.

   “I explained about how we left slavery and went into freedom, and that we celebrate both parts,” said Mr. Getz, who said that Councilman Reynoso listened attentively. “For instance, we dip the maror to remember that we were slaves, and we learn from that to always help the stranger and the downtrodden, and we also celebrate the freedom that we were given, and that is why we have the beautiful silver on our tables.

   “I love the idea of imposing memories on one plate,” said Councilman Reynoso.

   “I will always stand with, and fight for, the Jewish community,” Councilman Reynoso said today, as he wished hundreds of pre-Yom Tov shoppers “a git Yom Tov.”