Jack Martins Takes a Stand

J ack Martins is not your typical politician looking to charm and impress the Jewish community ahead of an election. He’s been there done that. And he feels comfortable in his own skin — not just reading off a piece of paper or rehearsed talking points — speaking about his work for New York’s Jewish community and his support for Israel.

Martins who served in the New York State Senate from 2010 to 2016 is running for Nassau County executive in the November 7 general election. The county has a large Jewish population including a significant Orthodox Jewish presence in West Hempstead and the Five Towns.

As mayor of the Village of Mineola (2003–2010) Martins helped the Jewish community install an eiruv without allowing it to become a political issue. “In instances where you see so many other communities making it a political issue and fighting the fact that Mineola has had an eiruv for probably about ten years at this point is remarkable ” Martins told Mishpacha during an interview in his campaign headquarters in Franklin Square. “For those who would choose to politicize such a thing shame on them. It isn’t who we are.”

In 2016 Martins partnered with State Senator Simcha Felder (D-Brooklyn) to pass a bill that prohibits the state from doing business with companies that support the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel. The bill failed to advance in the State Assembly but in June of that year Governor Andrew Cuomo issued an executive order that was identical to the language in the Senate bill.