Bill de Blasio: ‘A Real Mets Mensch’

Bill de Blasio may not be Jewish, like his predecessor Michael Bloomberg, but he certainly knows how to appeal to the community.

Arriving at the Congregation Beth Elohim synagogue in Park Slope, Brooklyn, de Blasio wore a New York Mets yarmulke (he did throw the first pitch at the Mets Citi Field on Monday) and asked the congregation’s lead rabbi to support the team.

“Being baseball season, you may notice I’m wearing a Mets-themed yarmulke,” he said to the rabbi and his congregation at Beth Elohim. “Now, I’m not taking sides, but I must say the Mets gave me the opportunity to throw out the first pitch on Opening Day, so I’m providing a little support back to them.”

To the rabbi he added, “Rabbi, we have a strong belief in helping the underdog and the oppressed — I think that means we should be there for the New York Mets.”

It seems like the prayer worked out.

The Mets won Saturday, on Ike Davis’ grand slam no less, prompting the New York Daily News to refer to de Blasio as ‘a real Mets mensch.’

de Blasio added that he “let the Mets know that if they need my help as a relief pitcher, I am available. They may need it.”

“I hope you won’t mind if I take a leave of absence to join the Mets bullpen for a while, because I want to help them have a better season,” he joked.

If he continues to make weekly visits to Beth Elohim, it looks like it will be a promising season for the New York Mets.

During his visit to the Brooklyn-based synagogue, de Blasio was also confronted by toddlers looking for full day pre-Kindergarten classes. “They are restless for better educational opportunities,” de Blasio said, addressing both the city’s baseball and educational needs in a single session.

For more baseball and Judaism, check out our Jewish Top 10s: MLB 2014 Edition.

Photo Caption: Mayor de Blasio wears a Mets-themed yarmulke at Congregation Beth Elohim in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

Photo Credit: Joe Marino, New York Daily News