A “National Day of Hate” against Jews that was planned by white supremacists and had triggered intense warnings from law enforcement and Jewish security officials, did not manifest any significant incidents on Saturday.
The Anti-Defamation League, which monitors hate, posted on Twitter that “despite concerns over increased antisemitic activity, 2/25 has so far been a pretty typical Saturday in America, w/ white supremacist protests in Florida & Georgia, antisemitic propaganda in TX, CA, FL & AZ — & white supremacists monetizing their hate-filled online livestreams.”
Synagogues and Jewish institutions across the United States had spent the preceding days bolstering their security procedures, reassuring their congregants, and requesting extra patrols from local police.
In an email on Friday, Julie Platt, chair of the Jewish Federations of North America wrote, “This is yet another example of how social media is contributing to the rise in antisemitism, this time by spreading and amplifying the activities of what is surely a very small group of people.”
As reported by the New York Post, about 75 congregants and guests gathered outside at the at Temple Emanu-El on Fifth Avenue synagogue to worship and hear from the clergy of other faiths.
“For me, today was a symbol of resistance, of being in solidarity with the Jewish people. With all of the threats and bad things, it’s a symbol of strength and solidarity,” said Jose del Rosairo, 29, of the Upper East Side, who is not of the Jewish faith, but came in support.
“To be here with my friends and fellow congregants is a real shot in the arm. To be participating in an event like this is uplifting, obviously, and it’s an antidote to what we’re reading about and hearing about in the media,” said Jonathan Krivine, 72, of the Upper East Side, who has attended the synagogue for nearly 25 years.
The NYPD had stated that there were no identified threats to New York City, but out of an abundance of caution deployed extra resources to sensitive locations, including houses of worship, throughout the weekend.
Governor Hochul, who attended services at Congregation Beit Simchat Torah in Chelsea stated, “There are 20 million New Yorkers who are with you today and every day as we stand up and call out antisemitism and racism and homophobia and all the other isms, because there’s still far more of us than there are of them, and I want them to know that. […] “There is strength in numbers, but there’s also strength and a legacy of courage of standing up to evil…We stand up people of courage to make sure that the words ‘never again’ truly mean something.”
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