By Mica Soffer – Publisher, COLlive.com
An impressive crowd of 25,000 people took to the streets of New York City on Sunday, marching across the Brooklyn Bridge in a dramatic show of solidarity after a string of anti-Semitic attacks in the New York area.
The protesters, hailing from many backgrounds and of all ages, came from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and other locations in the US, gathered at Foley Square in Lower Manhattan surrounded by a heavy police presence.
The march began at Foley Square without any sort of communication with the crowd, who milled about uncertainly for about an hour. Police leading the elected officials moved the march forward across the Brooklyn Bridge, ending at a rally at Cadman Plaza in Brooklyn.
The multicultural crowd included New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, Mayor Bill de Blasio, Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, Congress members Jerrold Nadler, Yvette Clarke and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a contingent from Ohio and a bishop from Brooklyn.
In conversations along the march and in remarks during the rally that followed, a wide condemnation was expressed against the rash of anti-Semitic attacks against Jews in neighborhoods such as Crown Heights, Williamsburg and Boro Park, along with deadly and violent attacks at a kosher grocery store in Jersey City and a Chanukah celebration in Monsey.
Devorah Halberstam, whose son Ari Halberstam was one of the first victims of anti-Semitic terror in the United States, spoke at the event. Rabbi Eli Cohen and Rabbi Chanina Sperlin of the Crown Heights Jewish Community Council (CHJCC), as well as Brooklyn Heights Shliach Rabbi Ari Raskin, shared remarks and recited “Shema Yisroel” with the crowd.
Despite these speakers being invited, absent from the “No hate, no fear” march were members of the Orthodox Jewish community, the prime targets of the anti-Semitic violence.
“The event was notable for having apparently few marchers from the Hasidic community, despite Hasidic Jews being the victims of most of the recent attacks,” Ben Sales reported for the JTA news agency.
Jake Turx, Senior White House Correspondent for Ami Magazine, tweeted: “The #NoHateNoFear rally against anti-Semitism had everything… except for a presence of Orthodox Jews. Is anybody asking why the same Jews who are being beaten in the streets are now made to feel marginalized at a rally that’s supposedly in recognition of their suffering??”
Citing no real effort “to include our community,” Crown Heights activist Yaacov Behrman said he “decided that I would rather miss the event and possibly regret that, than go and possibly regret being a part of it.”
“The march is worthless,” State Senator Simcha Felder said in a radio interview about the march organized by the UJA-Federation of New York, Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, Anti-Defamation League, American Jewish Committee and the New York Board of Rabbis.
“These marches are entirely symbolic by the organizations that run them,” Felder criticized. “New Yorkers are very smart and they don’t swallow the fact that some organizations that are out to prove that there’s some reason for their existence organize a march and say ‘we have to do this, we have to do that.'”
Felder, who represents Midwood and Boro Park, suggested: “Instead of marching and wasting time and wasting money, they should rather do something substantive which is not what they like doing – call out the mayor and call out every other elected official for what they are not doing.”
Echoing these sentiments was Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein, who represents Boro Park and Midwood as well. Responding to Cuomo’s announcement at the march that New York will provide $45 million in additional funding to protect religious-based institutions & non-public schools, he wrote: “Fool me once…”
Eichenstein said that Cuomo “announced this same funding over and over as if it’s new. This is the same $45 million that we passed in the budget last year. We need additional security funding for schools and houses of worship.”
Another Orthodox Jewish elected official who stayed away was Councilman Kalman Yeger who represents Boro Park and Midwood.
“Many good people of all faiths gathered today to stand against antisemitism. I’m grateful to them all,” he noted.
“Unfortunately, as many feared, today was marred by the participation of those who happily sail their ships in the blood of the Jewish people. I will never sail with them.”
Yeger wasn’t available for comment on who he was referring to. But Rockland County Legislator Aron Wieder was more specific. “No Hate Solidarity March – then why Yaffed?”
YAFFED – Young Advocates for Fair Education, an organization that actively lobbies against the Yeshiva and the Orthodox Jewish school system, was listed as a co-organizer of the march.
“Many people believe that Yaffed plays a large role in the vilification of Orthodox Jews,” one Crown Heights resident told COLlive.com. “With all the concerns now about Orthodox Jews being under attack, I know many people who said they would not attend an event with their name attached to it,” they said.
How many people showed up at the Lincoln Terrace Park event against antisemitism a few months ago for the event organized by and for OUR community? Very few, because for some reason, the community doesn’t attend such events. It has nothing to do with the organizers.
I dont remember hearing about that one. Obviously that rally did nothing to protect the Jews. Also did they advertise on the internet?
The outreach to this event was very limited and short
So these fancy suits showed up and got some pictures so that they can use in their next election campaign. But that’s all they’re gonna do. Don’t expect any more than that. They got their photo-op, they got their publicity, and they think that the public is a fool and will assume that since they made speeches in front of cameras, they actually care. We’re not fooled. We know how this works. We’ve been here before. We don’t expect anything to change, other than having an extra cop on the corner for the next week or two. Anyway, thanks for… Read more »
Were present. Why did we attend but the Williamsburg and Boro Park didnt?
Are our leaders like the politicians that showed up??
I guess sheep will be sheep
The biggest enemies our people were there.
The only group missin were the black Israelites
Nadler who gave 150 billion to Iran was there.
Schumer who is trying to destroy the best president we jews ever had.
AOC who hates Israel
Yafed who seeks to destroy Yeshivas.
Alternative lifestyle groups
ADL who also hate Trump
And every reform temple.
this was a rally to bring attention to antisemitism. what is with the frummeh acting like such prima donnas and not showing up because they weren’t especially invited or given center stage?? also, COL reporting highlighted all the naysayers in a pretty big way. but if you look at the pictures, you can see the sense of purpose on those that attended. also happy to see that so many members of our community attended, even when the big shots in the charedi world made a different choice. stay home guys if you can’t get over yourselves
There needs to be heavy police presence in crown heights.
Not only on Kingston avenue giving out tickets .
This is disgrace and they are playing with us like fools
While Jewish blood is being spilled .
We must take a stand against both those who attack us physically, with bricks and machetes, but also against those who want to attack us spiritually, those who go against our yeshivas and our mitzvos and minhogim such as bris mila, kosher schita and kapporos
Would you join a group of Jew haters making a rally. Anyone who is aware of anything knows that inviting all these democratic lefty radicals is not a place for an informed normal Jew to be at. Supporting these groups is like supporting the black Israelites,neo Nazi parties and Jews for yoshka gangs. These are the politicians who supported giving nukes to Iran. The nukes would of killed six million Jews n Israel in nine minutes. The crime n the street will get worse now because the two,mayor and governor released 3800 street criminals from prison. AOC from the anti… Read more »
Although not in this artical think of how many yidden put on teffilin or recived nesshek kits. Close to 1,000 of both
1) No matter the cause, when politicians and organizations are involved the in public displays of “unity” the fire can burn out quickly.
2) Any reasonable person knows that “the other side,” whatever that may be,is seldom swayed by demonstrations, marches, or speeches.
3) As Yidden we know from our history, from the wisdom of Pirke Avot, from every kapital of Tehillim, from so many of our tefillos that there is only One Source we can rely on for support and comfort.
Please stop criticizing the “Hassidic” community for poor attendance at yesterday’s March. As soon as you do that, you completely deligitimize your participation at this Rally.
Worry about your own segment of the community, not about the Hassidic community who have paid a very heavy price for Anti-Semitism in their communities.
Don’t forget, they don’t walk around wearing baseball caps (in public) to hide their Judaism.
They are very visible and proud of it.
Something to think about next time you criticize others.
More excuses from individuals who do not participate in the secular world. Not voting, not caring about legislative issues like criminal reform, not showing up to Community board meetings on homeless shelters, not showing elected officials that you are invested, not pushing for elections of the CHJCC, all weaken Jewish influence. No event will be perfect. The benefits outweighed the costs on this one. The fact that the Hassidic community and some Hassidic leaders chose to stay home on Sunday will discourage non-Hassidic Jews from going out of their way for Hassidic Jews in the future, and will weaken Jewish… Read more »
Youve got to be in it to win it. Yes, its easy to sit behind the computer and criticize. I wholeheartedly believe we need to stand with our brothers and sisters who came out and sincerely wanted to be there to support.
Did you get any pictures of AOC actually marching with fellow politicians? I cannot find any pics of her at the actual rally and taking a stand front and center.
People complain when there is not enough media attention focused on the anti semitic attacks. Then they don’t show up at a march that was an act of solidarity and understanding. This event was widely publicized, does every frum Jew require a personal invitation? Those spokespeople making this a political argument are undermining everything. You don’t have to agree with every group that signed up, but they didn’t show up to fight with you, they showed up to support you. Furthermore, a group being anti Trump doesn’t make them anti Israel or ‘radical Democrats’. Enough with the inflammatory language. If… Read more »
I have never read anything on ColLive before but this came up in my newsfeed. I am a secular Jew who attended the March. Frankly I am surprised for all the disdain from the Orthodox community for fellow Jews of a different political or religious belief. If we Jews cannot stick together, then I fear for our future as a people.
bring back the old days of the red devil and form vigilante groups,
knock the %^&* out of any chalairy who starts up with a jew
Symbols have power, this was a symbolic gesture. Wether you agree with who organized the event or not as frum jews wer have to unite with all types of jews. Hitler did not see a difference between us, secular, atheist, religious jews all died together. We have to unite and put our differences aside.
The unity of this event was incredible. And marches do matter and have power over public perception. It would have been more powerful to see more of the hassidic community there.
This whole issue of so-called anti-Semitism has to be approached with high intelligence.
The Lubavitcher Rebbe said we should spread the knowledge of The Seven Noahide Laws.
Failing this approach you will probably have a repeat of everything, and another March next year.
Why would an orthodox Jew March against anti-Semitism?
The ones who are fighting anti-Semitism most likely want to assimilate and be accepted by the non-Jews.
When I read the editorial this morning which emphasized those who did NOT attend and why, i was very disappointed. This rally came together in less than a week and was done for a positive reasons. All is all, it was clearly a kiddush hashem because it davka brought ALL jews together and even non jews friends and supporters, not Just politicians who I am sure could have just as easily stayed home, gone to church and taken time with family. Reading the comments now I feel relieved that I am not the only one who feels this way. Is… Read more »
Strong Jewish women are leading Crown Heights, whether it’s Ms. Halberstam rallying the troops (even though few showed up), whether its someone who writes an op-ed to CH newspapers; Yaacova Babinet, or whether it’s a woman who helps run a major Jewish electronic newspaper (Mica Soffer), women are taking the lead – The Gold Meir’s of today. Perhaps, the CHJCC should give all Jewish women (single and married) the right to vote and run in the CHJCC. If the CHJCC decides no Jewish female voting, they should forfeit any receipt of government public funds, since they are discriminating against women.… Read more »
Even in Torah’s toughest times it was because of women that we meritted to succeed. Maybe this is the next phase, women will be bringing moshiach!
The rally was organized by secular Jewish groups who hate Orthodox Jews. Everything they stand for is against our Torah. The rebbe forbid Jews to join in reform events. This was not an even where orthodox groups sponsored it. The politicians who attended were the real criminals. No Republican was invited. All democRATs.
1) NYS Democratic Governor provided $45 million in additional protection for religious institutions https://hamodia.com/2020/01/05/governor-cuomo-announces-45-million-funding-protect-new-yorks-religious-based-institutions/
2) Billionaire Ron Lauder donates $25 million to fight anti Semitism https://vosizneias.com/2019/12/10/billionaire-ron-lauder-is-funding-a-25-million-campaign-against-anti-semitism-in-us-politics/
Naysayers accomplish nothing. If you didn’t walk, you shouldn’t talk. I haven’t seen one negative post from anyone that was there. It was a beautiful event and if you chose not to come because of a handful of people that you don’t like then you are discounting the worth of the 24,900 people that showed up with pure intentions. There were tons of frum Yidden there. This article is truly disappointing.
I attended and it was a beautiful, simple, event of unity. Many Jews-of all backgrounds- came to support the anti-semitism that is mostly aimed at us and the only thing we should be saying is THANK YOU.
The 45 million was promised a while ago but the governor keeps bringing it up again and again. There were good reasons that our orthodox politicians did not attend but spoke out against the rally. Why don’t you get educated. The governor and mayor released 3800 street criminals. Wake up from drinking the democRATic cool aid. As Jews we have turned our backs on the radical liberal Torah hating democratic gang.
In NYC, Democrat City Council Members outnumber Republican members by a margin of 48 to 51.( 2 in SI, 1 from Queens). There are two factions of Democrats, the more left wing/progressive part (AOC, Diblasio, Jamaine Williams) and the more centrist part (Gov Cuomo, Eric Adams). When Cuomo added 500 more cops to the subways, AOC and Diblasio had objected unsuccessfully. Eric Adams is leading an effort to change the drone law to use drones to check on falling building debris. This may open the way to use drones in NYC for crime prevention. If Jews want to influence funding… Read more »
You could pour all the money you want but if you don’t keep street criminals locked up it’s like releasing all the animals from the safari into populated cities. The normal law abiding citizens are not allowed to defend themselves and the police have their hands tied by the mayor. You can march from today till tomorrow but if you elect these radical liberal democrats your life is at stake. No law means no peace. The people who created the problem were the protest organizers. The wolf’s organized the gathering of the sheep. Nadler gave 150 billion dollars to Iran… Read more »
This almost entirely Lilly White protest is an insult. The Black community vilifies and hates Jews who’s only crime is working hard, sticking their neck out and succeeding. Most of the people of color at the protest were running for office. I say to them, please don’t march with us, go back to your community and share the attitude and work ethic your parents taught you that empowered you to make a difference. Point out to your constituents that a significant portion of the Jewish Community seeks sources of income that respect their Sabbath observance and circumvent long-standing antisemitic hiring… Read more »