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1h ago

Cuomo Issues Yom Kippur Apology to Orthodox Jews for COVID Restrictions

The Yom Kippur-timed video reflects a push for Orthodox endorsements in his independent mayoral bid.

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FILE - New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo attends a ceremony at the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Aug. 3, 2020 at the World Trade Center in New York. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)
FILE - A man holds a sign as he joins protesters outside the offices of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Oct. 15, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File)
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Overview

  • Andrew Cuomo acknowledged that pandemic policies caused pain in Jewish communities and said, "We could have done better, and for that I am truly sorry."
  • The apology arrived in a video shared with Orthodox rabbis on the eve of Yom Kippur, circulating online but not posted to his official social accounts.
  • Cuomo defended intentions to protect health while noting sensitivities were overlooked during 2020’s "cluster initiative," which prompted protests, lawsuits, and a Supreme Court ruling curbing worship capacity limits.
  • The outreach follows Mayor Eric Adams’s exit from the race, with some Orthodox groups now backing Cuomo as he runs as an independent against Democrat Zohran Mamdani and Republican Curtis Sliwa.
  • Responses ranged from praise for finally addressing grievances to criticism as too late, while rivals highlighted his COVID record, including synagogue limits and the nursing-home policy.