By COLlive reporter
1,500 people from the Crown Heights neighborhood paraded from Kingston Avenue down Eastern Parkway for a “Jewish Unity March,” in response to growing antisemitism.
Men, women and children of all ages were joined by people from neighboring areas like Park Slope and beyond, as they held signs remembering the hostages still being held by Hamas terrorists in Gaza and messages about Jewish pride. Jewish music pumped loudly from a 4×4 truck.
The march was organized in commemoration of the first anniversary of the October 7, 2023 attacks in Israel, during which 1200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage.
It culminated at the Brooklyn Museum on Eastern Parkway, a site where many antisemitic and pro-Palestinian protests were held this past year.
Participants joined in prayer, reciting words of Tehillim and Torah, and heard inspiring remarks.
Sam Stern, one of the event organizers, served as the MC and opened the event by galvanizing the crowd, urging participants to show “Brooklyn, the city of New York, the United States of America, and the entire world, what Jewish pride is all about.”
Tehillim was led by Rabbi Lazer Avtzon. Rabbi Shimon Hecht, Director of Chabad of Park Slope, led the children in reciting the Pesukim.
Councilmember Kalman Yager, an Orthodox Jew who represents Brooklyn’s District 44 in the New York City Council, addressed the crowd, noting the difference between a Jewish pride march and other recent protests.
“Look around at us. You know what you don’t see? Nobody’s face is covered here. We’re not embarrassed to stand up. Be proud New Yorkers, proud Americans, proud Jews in New York,” Yager said.
Rabbi Yaacov Behrman, one of the event organizers, encouraged the crowd not to be afraid to be proudly Jewish, no matter where they are. “We are here today to send a loud and clear message: We are proud. We stand tall, we are unafraid, and we are united.”
Organizing Committee: Sam Stern, Menachem Light, Yaacov Behrman, Shaya Gordon, Yosef Lewis, Shmuel Kopfstein, Mendy Hershkop, Shlomie Hecht, Lazer Avtzon. Aba Prager supplied the sound truck.
VIDEO Full Replay – Video by Itzik Roytman
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Sam for Mayer 2025
So powerful!!! Am Yisrael Chai!!!
R’ Shmuel Stern a man of the people. Someone that is always there to help someone in need. A person that works day and night to keep the streets of Shchunas Hamelech clean as befits the community of the Rebbe. What a Guy! Standing and watching him daven on Rosh Hashana put me at ease for the rest of the year.