When he was younger, he sounded off in order to survive. Today he’s an advocate for his people by choice. With Yossi Gestetner’s open mike, no one goes down without a fight
LOCATION: Monsey
POSITION: Provider of Public/Community Relations services, news commentator
ROLE MODEL: “I don’t have a role model. However, I consider Chaskel Bennet of Agudath Israel and FJCC a mentor in askanus.”
There is a definite edge to Yossi Gestetner, the way he speaks, even the way he walks. If you’re one of his listeners on the Yiddish-language Kol Mevaser hotline, you hear it in his news analysis. If you read his pieces in the wider Orthodox press, you’ll see it in his punditry. And if you’re following political developments in New York’s religious neighborhoods, then you saw his effect just last week: he successfully managed Ruchie Freier’s victorious campaign for civil court judge and assisted Aron Wieder’s successful Democratic primary bid for New York State assembly.
We meet in a Monsey coffee shop: He looks like a thousand other chassidishe yungeleit — which is what makes the fact that he speaks like a knowledgeable conservative radio host so much more intriguing.
