(Combined Reports)
More than 2,500 Long Island residents marched against anti-Semitism on Sunday in Mineola.
Chabad Shluchim from across Long Island attended the march along with thousands of other activists and Long Islanders.
The Shluchim included Rabbi Eli Goodman – Long Beach, Rabbi Levi Gurkov – Oceanside, Rabbi Mendy Heber – Brookville, Rabbi Shimon Kramer – Merrick, Rabbi Nochum Tennenboim – Hewlett, Rabbi Boruch Wolf – New Hyde Park, Rabbi Yossi Lieberman – West Hempstead.
They all marched to show solidarity by spreading more light to push away the darkness. The Shluchim played a prominent role both on the VIP Stage as well as with Mivtza Tefillin, helped along with a group of 770 bochurim.
The local Shliach Rabbi Anchelle Perl was invited to speak.
“It’s crucial that we all stand up to hate, no matter where it occurs,” Chabad of Mineola’s Rabbi Perl said. “Sending a united front against hate, we can send the message that anti-Semitism, bigotry and hate symbols of all kinds have no place in our community.”
“By now,” continued Perl, “the response of all Chabad rabbis to every negative event is familiar. At a time like this we must all increase in our acts of goodness and kindness, for this really does underscore our conviction that we do not need to be persecuted to be Jewish; that we draw our strength and our vitality from the light of Torah study and the performance of mitzvot, being a lamplighter, dispelling lots of darkness with ever-increasing light.”
“This is the United States of America not the ‘United Hates of America’! this is the United States of America, not the United ‘Hates’ of America!”
VIDEO: Rabbi Perl’s full speech:
Nassau County Executive Laura Curran said, “We organized this march to send a clear message in one voice: Long Islanders of all faiths and backgrounds stand united with our Jewish community and against anti-Semitism. We are all together as human beings to say, there is no room for hate here on our beautiful island.”
Curran was one of more than 150 elected officials, interfaith leaders and community activists present at the march. Along with Curran, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone helped organize the event. Democrats and Republicans stood side by side and just about every ethnicity and religion came out in support. Prominent officials such as U.S. Reps. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove), Kathleen Rice (D-Garden City) and Peter King (R-Seaford) marched along with everyone.
At the march, New York State Attorney General Leticia James said that hateful actions such as those do not belong in society and that they must be stopped, regardless of race or religion.
“It was Jewish storekeepers who allowed black people not to go to the back door, but through the front door, and it was the blood of Jewish people that died for my freedom and your freedom,” James said. “We stand together in love and recognizing that hate will not be tolerated in Long Island or anywhere in the states.”
And that is why we love Rabbi Perl!!!