New York City synagogues receive outpouring of support for people of Israel at Friday night services
NEW YORK -- There were services at synagogues throughout the Tri-State Area in support of Israel, and several lawmakers made their voices heard in solidarity.
There was a solemn air over Temple Emanu-El on the Upper East Side during Friday night service, nearly a week since the attacks were carried out by Hamas on Israel.
"Well, the initial reaction is one of the shock, and then it becomes one of trauma, and ultimately, it has to become one of resolve," Rabbi Joshua Davidson said.
Davidson expressed his gratitude towards the outpouring of support that's come in from the city community over the past six days.
Mayor Eric Adams spoke at Friday night's service against the hate speech he's witnessed throughout the week.
"We have the largest Jewish population outside of Israel. If you don't feel safe here, where else can you feel safe?" Adams said.
"You could feel a lot of the empathy for the tragedy that's taking place in Israel," Upper East Side resident Mark Starker said.
Starker and his wife, Felica Kobylanski-Starker, are both children of Holocaust survivors and consider this moment in history a re-visitation of horror for their families.
There was a strong police presence at Temple Emanu-El throughout the service.
"People of all faiths understand that, and there's value in our coming together. We've been very gratified by support from the non-Jewish community as well," Davidson said.
"We should be the beacon for the entire globe. What happens in New York should cascade throughout the entire country and cascade throughout the entire globe. This dark moment, this painful moment, must turn into a purposeful moment," Adams said.
"It's important in moments of trauma for us to be together because we find strength in one another, and all of us are part of the Jewish people and Israel is our home," Davidson said.
Temple Emanu-El is also collecting donations in the form of money and items to be sent to Israel. So far, many of these items are for infants, like baby formula.
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There was unity through song at Congregation Beth Elohim in Park Slope, Brooklyn.
In New Jersey, Sen. Cory Booker made emotional remarks and spoke of his time in Israel and his ties with the Jewish religion at a synagogue in Short Hills.
"We will rise. Israel will stand and endure. We shall overcome. We will be the light. Let us be the light," Booker said.