Rabbi who filmed Thomas: It was no big deal to her
Rabbi David Nesenoff who taped White House correspondent making anti-Semitic remarks unapologetic about causing end of her 60-year career
WASHINGTON – American media has been busy over the past few days telling the story of elderly White House reporter Helen Thomas who was caught making anti-Semitic remarks last week which ultimately cost her her career.
Thomas assumed the position of White House correspondent in 1961 during President Kennedy's tenure and has been considered a groundbreaker for women in journalism over the years.
Thomas' career ended on a bitter note Monday following her calls for Israelis to "get the hell out of Palestine" adding the Jews should "go home" to Poland and Germany.
Though Thomas issued an apology for her statements, Rabbi David Nesenoff who taped her making the remarks does not believe the 89-year-old correspondent truly acknowledges the gravity of her words.
Talking to Ynet Nesenoff noted Thomas laughed during their conversation and did not take the matter "as a big deal." Referring to the fact that the video cost Thomas her career, the rabbi said he did not ambush her and was not the one to dismiss her.
After 60 years of work one minute of video killed her whole career, Nesenoff remarked.
The rabbi taped Thomas during an interview he held with her on the margins of an event held by US President Barack Obama last week to mark Jewish heritage month. He later uploaded the video to his personal website. He noted that over a million people watched the video on his website and on the video-sharing website Youtube.
Nesenoff, 50, a rabbi in a Long Island synagogue turned film producer said he asked guests at the White House event how they felt about Israel.
He noted he knew Thomas was pro-Palestinian and thought she might comment on the state in Gaza, but was not prepared for her hateful response. Trying to keep his cool the rabbi said he tried to respond as a professional reporter and not get into an argument.
Nesenoff noted that Thomas' statements caused uproar and criticism in Washington, prompting former White House spokesman Ari Fleischer, who previously wrote a book with Thomas, to demand she be fired. The rabbi added that the elderly correspondent's agent dropped her as a client.
Nesenoff's own career, however, might be on the rise following the incident. He told Ynet he's overwhelmed by e-mails and approaches from the media.
