New York mayor will arrive in Israel, "will speak against anti-Semitism"

Bill de Blasio with benefactor Rabbi Aharon Naeh (courtesy of photographer)

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, will come visit Israel next week, this will be his first visit to the country since being elected mayor last year.

During his visit, the Mayor will carry the keynote address at the annual conference of mayors, where he will speak on the subject of anti-Semitism in the West and how cities must face the challenge according to advice from the government.

The hosts of the conference are the American Jewish Congress - the American Council for World Jewry, and the World Forum of Judaism, which convenes dozens of mayors from around the world to discuss issues and challenges faced by the mayors.

According to information provided by the municipality, the cost of travel and accommodation for the mayor and his team are funded as a private gift by Israeli entrepreneur Baruch Eliezer Gross, and at no cost to taxpayers.

Gross is chairman of Besadno, an Israeli incubator and start-up company. Gross told the media, "I am honored to join the mayor in his struggle against anti-Semitism and in support of tolerance. New York can teach other cities with a model for protecting communities against hatred."

Ken Friedman, Gross' spokesman, said, "it was just a matter of Baruch Eliezer Gross, an Orthodox Jew, to fully support the stated mission of Bill de Blasio to confront anti-Semitism," said Friedman.

New York is the home to one of the largest Jewish communities in the world. The visit of Bill de Blasio to Israel will be the fourth time he visited the country. He will take off from New York on Thursday evening and on Sunday will take off again.

Bill de Blasio will arrive accompanied by his Haredi helper Avi Fink, including the Haredi friends of the mayor, philanthropists and public figures Eli Kleinman, Michael Landau, Aharon Naeh and Lion Goldenberg.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!