Activist priest Michael Pfleger says Yo-Yo Ma bailed on concert over Farrakhan speech

The Pfleger file . . .

It’s showtime!

Not.

Father Michael Pfleger tells Sneed there’s been new fallout stemming from Minister Louis Farrakhan’s incendiary speech last month at St. Sabina Church, which drew rabid criticism from members of the Jewish community for “anti-Semitic” remarks.

Renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma’s third annual St. Sabina Concert for Peace sponsored by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and initially scheduled for Saturday night was canceled two weeks ago, according to Pfleger.

“This was an event that was supposed to draw people together,” said Pfleger.

“This had been a two-year-in-a-row concert, a celebration of love and unity and peace. I am very hurt and disturbed this happened,” said Pfleger.

“This concert was attended by people from ZIP codes all over the city,” said Pfleger.

“We are such a divided nation now, and to postpone something that unifies the human family is sad. And I’m saddened that 44 years of my ministry was put aside because of the event of one night.

“Not only were people of St. Sabina hurt by this postponement, but I know Jewish folks were hurt, too,” he added. “People were trying to buy tickets on our website because a date had been announced and locked in for six months for June 22 by the CSO in conjunction with Yo-Yo Ma being in town to do a city concert at Millennium Park,” he said.

“We publicized it in our bulletin and website. Only two weeks ago did they tell us it was postponed.”

The activist priest claims he has received “thousands of emails calling me an anti-Semite and filth of the earth,” since the Farrakhan speech — when the Muslim cleric used the terms “good Jews” and “Satanic Jews.”

Pfleger — who plans to meet privately with leaders at the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center in Skokie “with a delegation from St. Sabina later this month” to discuss the Farrakhan imbroglio — insists he accepted the museum’s invitation before Cardinal Blase Cupich called and inquired about it.

“It’s true there was an event at the church [Farrakhan speech] which we were very concerned about,” said Jeff Alexander, president of the CSO Association.

“So we decided to talk about it; not dive in headfirst; give things time to settle down, give everyone some space, and try to do it next season after everything gets resolved,” he added. “We plan to talk to Father Pfleger this weekend.”

“We take great pride in our community work and the concert for peace at St. Sabina we’ve done for the last two years,” said Alexander.

Stay tuned.

Gulp!

”Foodgod” and Kim Kardashian BFF Jonathan Cheban had lunch Monday at Harry Caray’s Italian Steakhouse in River North, where he ingested the “Breaking Ball” dessert inspired by sports impresario Grant DePorter’s infamous Bartman ball destruction.

And, yes, Cheban broke it with a miniature Harry Caray bat.

But then again, what else would you expect?

A sad note . . .

Belated condolences to former Gov. George Ryan, who lost his sweetheart Alice Virginia “Kitty” Kelly, 72, last week of a sudden heart attack.

“Mike, she collapsed in my arms Saturday,” said Ryan, who lost his beloved wife, Lura Lynn, to cancer and felt he would never recover from her loss. “I was blessed to have two truly wonderful women in my life,” Ryan said.

Chicago lobbyist John Kelly also lost a wonderful mother.

So sad.

Rahm ‘em . . .

Former Mayor Rahm Emanuel overheard complaining his regular morning swim strokes had become more difficult because his hands were still sore from holding the bike handles so long on his recent bike trip around Lake Michigan after leaving office.

A mayoral first?

Sneed is told Bloomingdale mayor Franco Coladipietro was the first to exercise his right under a newly passed law signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker to perform marriages, which he did so Friday night at Gibsons Oakbrook uniting lobbyists Sarah Kuhn and Matthew O’Shea.

Sneedlings . . .

I spy: Singer Bebe Rexha spotted recently dining at TAO. . . . Ditto for Chicago native and Louis Vuitton Men’s Artistic Director Virgil Abloh; rapper Nav; Hamilton star Akron Watson and Bears legend Devin Hester. . . . Saturday’s birthdays: Meryl Streep, 70; Danny Green, 32; and Anwar Hadid, 20. . . . Sunday’s birthdays: Jason Mraz, 42; Randy Jackson, 63; and LaDainian Tomlinson, 40.