More than 1,100 gather in support of NYC synagogue targeted in anti-Israel protest

NEW YORK — More than 1,000 demonstrators gathered at a Thursday night “solidarity rally” in support of a New York City synagogue that was targeted in a vitriolic protest late last month.

The protest late last month, at the entrance to the Park East Synagogue school, targeted an event that was providing information to Jews about immigrating to Israel. The demonstration has alarmed Jewish New Yorkers due to the location and the protesters’ violent chants and threats.

The Modern Orthodox institution is one of the city’s more prominent synagogues.

“What Park East synagogue has experienced, I’m so shaken,” the synagogue’s rabbi, Arthur Schneier, told the crowd, connecting the demonstration to his experience seeing attacks on synagogues during the Holocaust.

“It was not just an attack on Park East Synagogue; this was an attack against the Jewish community, to intimidate us, but we’re not afraid. United we prevail, divided we fail,” he said. “Be strong and let us strengthen one another.”

Schneier asked attendees to urge city and state legislators to support passing laws that would bar protests at houses of worship. Two city legislators proposed such legislation earlier this week and Mayor Eric Adams has instructed the police to evaluate proposals to limit protests at houses of worship.

The demonstrators at the Thursday rally carried signs that said, “Proud New Yorkers, Jews, Zionists,” and, “Proudly Park East.”

Other signs called out anti-Zionism specifically, part of a growing movement to focus on tackling anti-Zionism as a distinct form of hatred, not a political position that can veer into antisemitism.

“Anti-Zionists spread libels to mark Jews for violence,” a sign bearing the logo of the recently launched Movement Against Antizionism said. Another demonstrator held a sign that said, “If you don’t teach your kids about anti-zionism, someone else will.”

Ranks of police officers protected the perimeter of the rally, and Jewish community security personnel checked entrants. Some Jewish community members had criticized the police for allowing last month’s protest so near the synagogue door, but the crowd at the rally was overwhelmingly supportive of the NYPD, cheering at the mention of the force and thanking the officers present.

Alison Widawsky traveled to the rally from Long Island to “support the Jewish people of New York City,” she said, joining her sister, Jolie, a resident of Manhattan’s Upper West Side.

“Our grandparents were Holocaust survivors, so we know what happens when people don’t stand up,” said Jolie Widawsky, a recent graduate of the city’s Touro College. “For young people in our age group, it’s easy to feel alone supporting Israel, even on college campuses, there’s become a shame to it, but I feel proud to know I’m not alone.”

The Jewish reggae star Matisyahu performed during interludes between speeches by local community leaders, the crowd shivering against the cold to his hit songs “One Day” and “Jerusalem.”

Organizers said 1,102 people attended the hour-long rally, citing an NYPD headcount. There did not appear to be any counterprotesters.

The rally was backed by an array of Jewish groups, led by the UJA-Federation of New York.

The rally took place amid trepidation in the mainstream Jewish community over Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, a far-left, anti-Israel activist who will take office on January 1, although none of the event speakers mentioned Mamdani by name.

After the protest last month, Mamdani spoke out against the demonstration but also against the synagogue, saying, “These sacred spaces should not be used to promote activities in violation of international law.”

The comment was a reference to West Bank settlements. The group hosting the immigration event at the synagogue, Nefesh B’nefesh, does not direct immigrants to settlements, but provides information on its website for those wishing to move to West Bank communities. Mamdani’s response infuriated Jewish community leaders.

Several Jewish moderates in high positions in the city government will act as a counterweight to Mamdani and his administration — NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, the incoming speaker of the city council, Julie Menin, and Comptroller-elect Mark Levine.

The comptroller is seen as the second-highest position in the city government, overseeing the city’s finances and serving as a check on the mayor’s office.

Levine said at the rally, “It is not a matter of opinion or speculation what the goal of these protesters was,” quoting one of the anti-Zionist protest leaders who told the crowd, “We need to make them scared,” in reference to the synagogue event.

“This was unambiguously an effort to intimidate and threaten Jewish New Yorkers going into a synagogue,” Levine said.

“This should be a city where no one is harassed or threatened for who they are, for what their faith is, for where they worship or what country they have or might immigrate to or from,” Levine said. “This should be a city where all of us feel safe. This is the New York we are fighting for.”

The rally closed with the Park East Synagogue children’s choir singing “The Star-Spangled Banner” and Israel’s anthem, “Hatikvah,” or “The Hope.” The crowd dispersed through the police barricades as the children trotted back into the synagogue school entrance.