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By: Debbie Mancuso
In the face of mounting tensions and anti-Israel sentiment in New York City following the conflict between Israel and Hamas, Jewish New Yorkers are demonstrating their unwavering resilience by proudly displaying their faith.
Despite threats and intimidation, they refuse to hide and instead wear their Jewish symbols and Israeli pride as a powerful statement of unity and defiance. Th NY Post wrote an outstanding article recently about NY Jewish pride.
Recent days have seen increased patrols by the NYPD at Jewish schools and synagogues, as an “abundance of caution” in anticipation of large protests against Israel. These protests included the burning of Israeli flags by pro-Palestine demonstrators, underscoring the palpable tensions.
Yet, the Jewish community in New York remains resolute and unafraid. Joseph Borgen, a 31-year-old Manhattan resident who was brutally attacked in an anti-Semitic incident while on his way to a pro-Israel rally in Times Square in 2021, refuses to be intimidated. He proudly wore a yarmulke and a large Israeli flag at rallies supporting the Jewish State, emphasizing that while there is fear, it should not deter them from showing solidarity with Israel.
Chabad Rabbi Uriel Vigler, who runs Belev Echad, an organization supporting injured Israeli soldiers, emphasized that the best response to hostility is to display Jewish pride and encourage others to stand strong. He stressed that responding to darkness with light is essential and that they should never let hate silence their voices, NY Post reported.
Blake Zavadsky, a college student who was randomly attacked while wearing an IDF hoodie, exemplifies this spirit of resilience. He believes it is vital to show that Jews are strong, determined, and unyielding in the face of intimidation. Zavadsky’s experience, despite the scars it left, did not deter him from continuing to proudly display his Jewish identity.
Dikla Goren, a mother of four in Brooklyn, draped herself in a large Israeli flag at a rally, marking her first time doing so since visiting Auschwitz as a teenager. She expressed the importance of proclaiming her Jewish identity and the phrase “Never again.” Goren, who moved from Israel 13 years ago, also put up missing persons posters of Israelis, many of them children, around Brooklyn to educate people about the situation in Israel.
In light of anti-Israel protests on various New York college campuses, some Jewish students like Nathan Orbach refused to be intimidated and continued to wear symbols of their support for Israel. Orbach donned a yarmulke, an Israeli flag-emblazoned sweatshirt, and tzitzit at a pro-Israel rally in Washington Square Park. His decision to wear his “uniform” was a symbol of his pride and solidarity.
Beauty queen Justine Brooke Murray defied concerns from her family when she displayed her star of David necklace at a pro-Palestine rally in Times Square during the “day of jihad” demonstrations. She encouraged her followers not to live in fear, recognizing that embracing one’s Jewish identity is an act of bravery in these challenging times.
These resilient and fearless Jewish New Yorkers are sending a powerful message: they will not be silenced, they will not live in fear, and they will continue to proudly wear their faith, regardless of the challenges and threats they face.
