On Friday night, an intruder disrupted Friday night services at Central Synagogue in New York City. Jews were targeted in 70% of all hate crimes in New York City in July, according to NYPD data released earlier this month. From attacks on the street to protests in front of synagogues, the Jews of New York are facing a new reality. Thank you to Talia Werber for her insightful comments on my first draft (see ‘Postscript.’)
For the Jews of New York
O New York,
You are our crossroads and our bridge,
Our landing and our launching into a new world,
The text of our longings, travels, and travails,
The garment worker, radical, immigrant,
Rabbi, comedian, button maker, bagel baker,
Lawyer, doctor, banker, professor,
Wrestler with the ancient and the new,
A Torah of our modernity.
Jews of New York,
We stand with you
Against the onslaught of hate
Of viciousness and lies,
Of violence unprovoked,
Of synagogues besieged,
Of synagogues invaded,
Of history forgotten.
You are not alone.
From Pittsburgh to Colleyville,
From Kansas City to Boulder,
From London to Sydney to Toulouse,
From Jerusalem and all of Israel,
You are not alone.
O my people,
Stand strong, stand firm.
For we have seen hate
And we have always survived.
Together we rise to hold fast with you,
In strength and solidary,
To declare
עם ישראל חי!
Am Yisrael chai!
The people of Israel live.
© 2026 Alden Solovy. All rights reserved.
Postscript: Thanks again to my friend Talia Werber for her insightful comments on my first draft. Talia is a classmate of mine in Hebrew Union College‘s Virtual Pathway to the Rabbinate. I am saddened that over the years I’ve needed to write prayers for the Jews of Pittsburgh, Colleyville, Kansas City, Boulder, London, Sydney, Toulouse and many others, which is why I mention them in this piece.
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Photo credit: Central Synagogue website
Tags: anti-semitism, antisemitism, hate, terror, violence