New York — Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo issued a public apology to the Orthodox Jewish community, acknowledging what he described as unfair treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cuomo, who oversaw New York’s pandemic response, admitted that restrictions and enforcement disproportionately targeted Orthodox neighborhoods at a time when tensions were running high.
“I am truly sorry… On this holy day of atonement, I am committed to learning from these lessons,” Cuomo said, in remarks timed to coincide with Yom Kippur, the most solemn day on the Jewish calendar.
The former governor faced sharp criticism in 2020 for singling out Orthodox communities in Brooklyn and Rockland County after large gatherings were linked to virus outbreaks. Community leaders argued that the restrictions unfairly stigmatized their religious practices, while similar large-scale events elsewhere drew less scrutiny.
Cuomo’s apology marks one of his clearest acknowledgments yet of missteps made during the pandemic, particularly in how policies were communicated and enforced.
“Government must treat all communities equally,” he added. “I regret that my words and actions left members of the Orthodox community feeling targeted.”
The remarks were welcomed by some Jewish leaders as a meaningful gesture of reconciliation, though others noted that the damage done during that period is not easily forgotten.
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