By COLlive reporter
A Queens Unity Rally against anti-Semitism took place in Forest Hills, New York, on Sunday, in response to the uptick of attacks on Jewish communities in the Greater New York area.
In Queens itself, a community member of Chabad of Forest Hills North was hit with a bottle on the night of Rosh Hashana while walking to shul. The man was told to “go back to where he came from,” In another incident, the rabbi himself was attacked outside his Chabad with slurs calling him a “rich Jew.” On Chanukah, he was verbally attacked due to the Menorah on his car.
Chabad of Forest Hills/North, under the direction of Rabbis Mordechai and Mendy Hecht, participated in the rally with the intent “to show solidarity by spreading more light to push away the darkness.”
Rabbis Hecht offered men the opportunity to put on Teffilin, while the women were given beautiful custom-made candle lighting magnets and Friday Light packets that consist of an explanation on the mitzvah with a bracelet and candle kit to do the mitzvah of lighting Shabbos candles.
“It was a beautiful success and a big Kiddush Hashem!” Rabbi Mendy Hecht says.
