Rivkah Rothschild was on her approach to a public menorah lighting in New York Metropolis on Sunday night when she determined to recite a particular Jewish prayer to herself.
“I truly stated Shema Yisrael, which is the prayer that we are saying earlier than passing away, simply within the taxi coming over, simply in case there have been any terrorists right here,” stated Rothschild simply after the occasion.
An lawyer in Midtown East, Rothschild was planning to skip the menorah lighting at Carl Schurz Park till Rabbi Ben Tzion Krasnianski, the chief director of the Chabad Lubavitch of the Higher East Aspect, requested her and her fellow group members to come back out following the lethal capturing at a Chabad Hanukkah celebration in Sydney, Australia.
“I believe all of us are very shaken. We’re devastated by the information of what occurred as we speak in Sydney, Australia. All our hearts are all damaged for the individuals which can be struggling what they’ve skilled there,” stated Rothschild. “I used to be fearful once I made the choice that I’m coming.”
The menorah lighting simply exterior of Gracie Mansion, which was hosted by the UJA-Federation of New York, Chabad of the Higher East Aspect and Kehilath Jeshurun, was certainly one of dozens that happened throughout NY city to mark the primary night time of Hanukkah.
Tons of of individuals crowded collectively on the ice-covered promenade of the park, having fun with sufganiyot and latkes, as sorrow and willpower hung within the air.
“It was a really unified spirit and a robust vitality, a resolute vitality, an vitality of conviction, willpower,” stated Rothschild following the occasion. “In my research of historical past, when Jews are at risk, we normally do three issues. None of them work. We appease, we flee and we ignore. We’re not doing any of that now.”
Regardless of the assault, which killed 15 individuals and injured dozens extra, Chabad officers and Jewish leaders throughout the nation urged for deliberate Hanukkah celebrations to maneuver forward with added safety measures.
“Out of an abundance of warning, the NYPD has considerably elevated safety round Hanukkah celebrations, menorah lightings, and Jewish homes of worship throughout all 5 boroughs,” wrote NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch in a publish on X. “New Yorkers will see an enhanced uniformed presence, specialised patrols, counterterrorism assets, and extra protecting measures deployed the place applicable.”
Certainly, over a dozen New York cops and members of Chevra Hatzalah, the New York-based Jewish ambulance service, may very well be seen on the outskirts of the gang as Hanukkah songs blared over the audio system.
Police presence on the menorah lighting occasion in Carl Schurz Park on Dec. 14, 2025. (Jewish Telegraphic Company)
Previous to the lighting of the menorah, which sat raised above the gang, a number of rabbis, Jewish leaders and metropolis officers gave speeches the place they urged the gang to counter the assault in Sydney by being proudly Jewish.
The incoming comptroller of New York, Mark Levine, who urged Jewish New Yorkers to attend menorah lightings earlier within the day, advised the gang that not one of the public Hanukkah occasions all through town had been cancelled and that “turnout has been off the charts.”
“We’re aspiring now to be modern-day Maccabees, that is who we’re in New York Metropolis,” stated Levine. “To those that hate us, know that we aren’t going anyplace. We won’t allow you to intimidate us, not right here on this park, not in entrance of Park East Synagogue, not in our faculties, not in our subways, nowhere.”
Julie Menin, a Jewish politician who declared victory final month within the race for Metropolis Council speaker, advised the youngsters within the viewers that “this too shall go and issues might be brighter.”
“That is an extremely troublesome day for the Jewish group, and it’s actually solely by coming collectively and celebrating the truth that we’re Jewish, that we’re lighting the menorah tonight, that we’re lighting the candles within the darkness, that we’re going to heal, and it’s only by means of schooling that we’re going to battle antisemitism,” stated Menin.
All through the speeches, many leaders additionally took intention on the enhance in antisemitic rhetoric that has proliferated across the globe over the course of the battle in Gaza.
Some additionally particularly decried the usage of the phrase “globalize the intifada,” a standard pro-Palestinian slogan that Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani declined to sentence throughout his marketing campaign. He later stated he would discourage its use.
“We’re shocked and heartbroken about what occurred, however we’re not shocked,” stated Hindy Poupko, the senior vice chairman of group organizing and exterior relations at UJA-Federation of New York. “After two years of individuals shouting on our streets ‘Globalize the intifada’ from New York to Sydney, phrases have penalties. The violent rhetoric should finish, and we name on all of our leaders and our elected officers to sentence that rhetoric.”
Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz, the chief of the Orthodox Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun on the Higher East Aspect, additionally directed his commentary to the usage of the phrase.
“I have to make this very clear, as a result of some don’t perceive it. Globalizing the intifada shouldn’t be an unlucky phrase, it’s not one thing to be discouraged, globalizing the intifada is a name to homicide,” stated Steinmetz. “It’s time for us to inform the reality that this anti-Zionism has led to the dying of Jews in Boulder, in Washington D.C., in Leeds and in Sydney. It’s time to say that anti-Zionism kills Jews.”
The alleged attackers in Sydney could have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State terrorist group, in accordance with information studies out of Australia. No studies have instructed that they made any particular feedback throughout the assault.
In an intensive publish on X Sunday, Mamdani condemned the assault and reiterated his dedication to “work each day to maintain Jewish New Yorkers secure.”
“This assault is merely the most recent, most horrifying iteration in a rising sample of violence focused at Jewish individuals the world over,” wrote Mamdani. “Too many now not really feel secure to be themselves, to specific their religion publicly, to worship of their synagogues with out armed safety stationed exterior.”
Tons of gathered for the menorah lighting occasion hosted by the UJA-Federation of New York, the Chabad of the Higher East Aspect and Kehilath Jeshurun in Carl Schurz Park on Dec. 14, 2025. (Jewish Telegraphic Company)
Additionally on the stage at Carl Schurz Park Sunday night time was Rabbi Menachem Creditor, a scholar in residence and rabbi for the UJA-Federation of New York whose brother-in-law, Arsen Ostrovsky, was shot throughout the assault in Sydney.
“I requested him simply an hour in the past, what ought to I say to your sisters and brothers in New York as your brother? He stated, darkness won’t ever triumph. We’ll prevail,” stated Creditor. “We’ve a protracted historical past of doing higher than surviving, associates. We’ve come again from a lot darkness.”
Ben Axelrod, a 30-year-old Jewish resident of the Higher East Aspect who was within the crowd Sunday night time, stated he had cried that morning when he discovered the information of the assault, however didn’t really feel deterred from coming to the menorah lighting.
“As a result of on the finish of the day, this isn’t new, it’s scary, however we’ve got to maintain transferring for all those that handed, and we are able to honor their reminiscence by persevering with to be proud Jews,” stated Axelrod.
Rena Tobey, a 66-year-old Jewish resident of the Higher East Aspect, stated that she had not deliberate to come back however determined to attend the menorah lighting after studying of the assault.
“That is about mild growing each night time, and we’ve got to know that candles are non permanent, however we’ve got to hold that mild with us it doesn’t matter what the darkness is on this planet,” stated Tobey.
One other Jewish attendee of the menorah lighting, who recognized himself by his first title, Steven, stated that he was not afraid to come back to the occasion regardless of the assault.
“We’re a robust, vibrant group, and we’re happy with who we’re, and it exhibits how sturdy and proud we’re given the climate situations that all of us got here out,” stated Steven. “As soon as we begin to really feel worry, you’re giving in, and we don’t give in.”
