Transcript: Mayor de Blasio Delivers Remarks Following Visit to Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center

October 17, 2015

Mayor Bill de Blasio: Thank you. Thank you so much, Mayor Barkat. I appreciate your kindness, and the great relationship that we have developed, and the fact that our cities are so close. There is a joke about Israel being the sixth borough, and particularly Jerusalem being the sixth borough of New York City. We feel extraordinary closeness – our people by blood, by history feel such a connection. And so, when you are going through pain, we feel pain too. When you are under attack, we feel under attack too. And I am honored to be here in that spirit of solidarity and a sense of common destiny.

I want to say – first of all, let me offer my thanks to everyone at Hadassah Hospital. And I have to tell you, the stories I’ve heard are – in the midst of this pain, in the midst of this challenge – can only be described as inspiring, and somehow life-affirming. And it’s a hard thing to imagine at this difficult moment, but what’s happening here reminds us of what should be and will be one day.

I want to thank Dr. Tamar Peretz, the director of this fine hospital. I want to thank Dr. Alon Pikarsky, the head of surgery. They are extraordinary doctors, and dealing with one the most dynamic situations, I’d argue, anywhere in the world. And, to hear them talk about their mission is inspiring. It’s far beyond a medical mission. They are serving people throughout one crisis after another. They understand that this hospital is one of the guarantors of something positive in this society. And there is such a commitment to serving all and to being a place where people of good will come together to help others – and that’s the amazing story of Hadassah. The staff here – the doctors, the nurses, the staff – come from the Jewish community, come from the Muslim community – work together to save lives. So even again, amidst this pain, there is a reminder of something better.

It’s also so stark today – you don’t have to think about – you can’t think about acts of terrorism like this in the abstract when you meet the victims, when you meet their families. It becomes very real. And in New York City, as you said, Nir, we know too much about the effects of terror, and even just a few weeks ago with our anniversary again – reminded what the cost of terrorism in human terms. Well, today we saw three families deeply affected by these acts of terror and we understand that any act of violence against a civilian is unacceptable, and we have to condemn it and we have to fight to stop it, because there can’t be peace when civilians are walking and attacked just for going about their business. 

The victims we met -  I wish I could express to you fully how extraordinary their stories are, and how extraordinary their spirits are. Three entirely different people – two victims and the wife of another – each with an amazing story and each with somehow a positive sprit despite what they’ve been through. And, you’ve heard about Maria Veldman, who came from Holland – a Christian woman from Holland who came here, worked as a nurse at your Mt. Scopus Hospital of Hadassah, became devoted to the notion that she would help Arab children who didn’t have a home, and proceeded to become a foster parent for 20 Arab children over the years, one of whom was visiting her in the room when we went. And she talked about the fact that no matter what she has been through, she still feels a love for all people, and that she looks forward to continuing her work. And here’s someone who you could see their stab wound on her – the stab wound on her chest. And instead of talking about anger or hatred, she talked about love and her desire to resume her mission.

When we talked with Pesach Krishevsky – there’s a man who some of you saw had gone through such a horrible injury and come so close to death, and yet he was joyful to be alive, and offered a positive hope for both our peoples. And then finally, Karen Lakin, the wife of Richard Lakin – they were originally from New York. She grew up in the Bronx I believe she said, but they lived in Port Chester before they returned – and they returned to Israel. She, it turns out, was a teacher in the very same program that we visited this afternoon and worked with those schools hand-in-hand. And even more amazingly – I thought as I was listening to her – that you couldn’t believe that all of this history could come together in one place. She and her husband were freedom riders during the Civil Rights Era in 1961. So, imagine this couple that had devoted themselves to a better and more free and more inclusive America, then made [inaudible] here, devoted themselves to helping the children of Israel – all children, of all backgrounds – and then this horrible terrorist attack. And yet, here spirit remained undaunted.

So I just will conclude by saying what we’ve seen here in the spirit and the resolve of these victims, and the strength of the leadership here in Jerusalem, and the amazing work of the leaders and the staff of Hadassah Hospital – somehow amidst this pain there is still hope. And, our prayers are with all of the victims and their families. This violence must end, and today reminds me that when the violence does end, there are good people who will move forward and help this society move forward toward peace.  

Thank you, everyone, very much.