By COLlive reporter
A solemn memorial event to commemorate the outbreak of the infamous Crown Heights riots in 1991 took place Sunday morning on the neighborhood’s main thoroughfare.
Elected officials and community leaders gathered on Eastern Parkway facing the Jewish Children’s Museum for a day of “remembrance and reflection” of the dark days of the riots which left a lasting impact on the area and New York City.
The event was MC’d by Devorah Halberstam, community activist and one of the organizers of the event, who recalled the days of the riots and called for validation of the pain suffered by the community.
“25 years ago I watched as my community was attacked by a mob chanting ‘kill the Jews,” Halberstam said. “Yankel Rosenbaum was savagely and fatally attacked and stabbed in an act of hatred and anti-Semitism.”
“Over this past week, I have heard the anguish and passion within my own community that the days following his murder caused,” said Halberstam, who herself lost a son to a terror attack in the city.
“After 25 years there needs to be validation of their suffering,” Halberstam insisted. “There needs to be finally an acceptance of the truth and responsibility for the inciters and those that failed to act and respond to the pogrom.”
VIDEO:
Richard Green, founder of Project Care which promotes relations between the black and Jewish communities, said he recalls receiving a dollar for charity from the Lubavitcher Rebbe, and said he still carries the Rebbe’s picture in his wallet.
Green recalled then NY Mayor David Dinkins‘s visit to the Rebbe, and the Rebbe’s words to him about unifying “One Crown Heights.”
Carmel Cato, whose son Gavin was killed in a car accident that was used as an excuse for the riots against Jews, attended the event and lit a candle in memory of his 7-year-old boy.
VIDEO: Carmel Cato lights memorial candle
Norman Rosenbaum, brother of Yankel, refused to attend the memorial saying he disapproved of the unity festival that would follow it later in the day. Instead, he held a private memorial on Friday morning.
Other speakers during Sunday’s memorial included Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, Councilmember Laurie Cumbo, Councilmember Darlene Mealy, Chanina Sperlin, Inter-Governmental Liaison for the CHJCC, Medgar Evers College President Rudy Crew and Rabbi Joseph Potasnik.
Speakers called for the continued healing of the two communities, which began in the aftermath of the violence 25 years ago, and praised the community for making great progress in coming together.
“We will not be personified by what happened 25 years ago,” said Borough President Eric Adams, “but as a community who walks together, grows together, and shows the world how to live together.”
COLlive ‘todah’ for nice article & photos. I found these words of The Rebbe, MH”M on ‘Chabad.org’ re: loss & tragedy: “Action”: In the Rebbe’s counsel, there was a constant emphasis on constructive action. The Rebbe’s message was that while Judaism does not rationalize or justify tragedy, it does have a response Instead of asking “Why Me?” we are redirected to ask “What Now?” We’ve all seen how the painful energy created by tragedy can remain inside a person and fester, sucking the joy out of life and perhaps even boiling over in unhealthy release. The Rebbe would instead gently… Read more »
why is there a picture of people blowing trumpets and a big Shofars I know they do it in Kosel the old city of Jerusalem for Bar Mitzvahs but why are they doing it for this ceremony Memorial ? it’s kind of strange or weird what do you think
people did listen & buy & are now selling at huge profits to non jews, exactly what the rebbe was against
the only one who is still listening to the rebbe is rabbi dovid fisher
That is is not the only thing people should have done that the Rebbe, said should be done;
There were many things about many issues that the Rebbe talked about that many people should have listened to and followed but did not.
Perhaps if everyone who heard the Rebbe and regularly attended his Farbrengens, had done everything the Rebbe said, perhaps Moshiach would be here, now.
You just don’t get it, do you? Rambling on about this guy or that guy and the Community Council is a bunch of nonsense. The boat has already set sail, and this community missed it. The Rebbe, for years, encouraged people to buy, buy, buy, at a time when Jews were fleeing this community in fear. Some people listened and bought, while others were just too comfy in their low-rent, large apartments and decided to not “go the extra mile”. This got even worse after Gimmel Tammuz, when people began ignoring this message altogether. Well, whad’ya know, fast forward 40… Read more »
Shkoyach, you voiced our feelings & concerns of what happened 25 years ago as well as for the future. Thank you & Hatzlacha!
To those who complain about that this was leaders and no followers: Leaders (or more accurate, community representers) get into that position almost always by election, so if it bothers you that these people don’t represent you, you’ll have to actually do something besides posting your opinion on an online blog. you’ll have to find someone who does represent you and get them elected, or run for election yourself, otherwise, these people in fact do represent you and the community, regardless of whether online posters say otherwise, or that few show up to an event they make.
Although I did not and do not approve of a day of celebration in memory of one of the country’s worst racial riot, I appreciated devorah saying what she said. Having said that, this event had mostly leaders and barely any community residents, making this event a moment for the leaders to stroke their egos. A mistake clearly made by those who organized this. As the brother of yankel rosenbaum stated, it should have been a day of mourning and healing, not a day of celebration. Crown heights needs a town hall meeting where the residents, (not so much the… Read more »
It looks like about equal media and politicians
Devorah should be the next vaad hakahal. she has the words, the connections. ps- Come to monsey you get all the invetory you wanted! lots of couples from crown heights.
Devorie Halberstam spoke the truth
She movingly and eloquently expressed the feelings of hurt and tragedy that our community experienced
Devorah Halberstam your words were perfectly and correctly put and said as you always can and do. Thank you!
Its time to demand Eli cohen and zaki tamir do something about the destruction that is hitting our community. CALL THE COUNCIL AND DEMAND ELI COHEN ARRANGE A MEETING WITH ASKANIM OR SOMEONE to get us our of this mess. Our schools and whole infrastructure is being destroyed at the hands of these developers and satmars. our couples how no where to go. Inventory is almost none existent because whatever little we had is being given to goyim.t Even our own people are renting and selling to yuppies. some facts- 520 crown- new landlord, kicking out jews, condos next to… Read more »