Bruce Blakeman Davens at the Ohel Ahead of Tuesday’s Election

Bruce Blakeman, the 10th County Executive of Nassau County, New York, and the current frontrunner in the highly contentious New York gubernatorial race, visited the Rebbe’s Ohel in Queens just days before Tuesday’s consequential elections.

Blakeman is currently running against incumbent Governor Kathy Hochul in a closely watched race, with several major issues on the table, including protections for shuls, schools and other religious institutions, public funding for childcare vouchers, and New York’s participation in the federal scholarship tax credit program, which could provide meaningful tuition relief for families.

The race has drawn considerable attention, with polls showing a competitive contest that could potentially come down to just a few thousand votes.

Blakeman was accompanied by the Rebbe’s shliach to the Five Towns, Rabbi Zalman Wolowik. Before davening at the Ohel, Blakeman put on tefillin and a tallis together with Rabbi Wolowik..

Blakeman wrote a pan and entered the Ohel together with the shluchim, where he davened for bracha and hatzlacha in the days ahead.

This was not Blakeman’s first visit to the Rebbe’s Ohel. Just before Rosh Hashanah, he also visited, accompanied by shluchim from his county, which is home to the largest Jewish community in the United States outside of New York City.

Blakeman has a deep connection to the Rebbe and visits the Ohel frequently, regarding each visit with profound seriousness. He sees it not merely as a place to receive a bracha, but as a call to action that inspires him to give back and make a difference.

A proud Jew, Blakeman never shies away from openly expressing his Jewish identity. He has also been a close friend of the Wolowik family for nearly three decades, supporting them throughout their shlichus.

He actively encourages the annual public menorah lighting in Nassau County, which has grown into a major community event attended by thousands and of which he takes great pride.

Earlier this year, Blakeman also attended the Simchas Beis Hashoeiva in Crown Heights and toured Kingston Avenue, where he heard firsthand about the challenges impacting the daily lives of local residents and business owners.

He also held a press conference in Crown Heights, where he addressed concerns over Governor Hochul’s placement of large homeless shelters for formerly incarcerated individuals in and around the neighborhood.

Eligible community members (U.S. citizens only) are encouraged to vote in this crucial election. Find your designated voting location at voterlookup.elections.ny.gov.