Congregants and guests of the Van Cortlandt Jewish Center (VCJC), located at 3880 Sedgwick Avenue in Van Cortlandt Village, gathered at the center on Sunday, April 27, for Yom HaShoah, a Holocaust remembrance lecture.

 

In the context of announcing the event, Jack Spiegel, a VCJC spokesperson, said, “With antisemitism so prevalent, it is an important time for everyone to remember the Holocaust.” Spiegel added, “In a time when antisemitism is once again on the rise, particularly following the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, it is more important than ever that we come together to remember the past and stand united against hate.”

 

During the event, six attendees were invited to light one of six candles, each representing one million of the six million Jews who were murdered in the Nazi concentration camps during World War II.

After lighting her candle, one unidentified woman said, “For my grandparents and my uncles whom I never met, and my parents who survived, and I’m alive because my parents fought back.”

 

The event featured speaker Sonja Geismar, who was 3½ years old when Nazi soldiers came to her family’s home. Geismar and her family were aboard the M.S. St. Louis, a refugee ship that was turned away by several nations, including the United States, in 1939. She told the audience, “[On] Yom HaShoah, the day of Holocaust Remembrance of the six million, our collective ancestors who lost their lives in the most brutal and inhumane ways, we honor their lives, their suffering and their memories.”

 

Geismar continued, “We also honor the heroism of those who bravely resisted, both individuals and organizations. We honor those who narrowly survived and with inner strength and faith, restored their lives and contributed to society.”

 

After the event, Spiegel recalled, “What began as a simple question-and-answer session evolved into a lively and heartfelt conversation with the audience about the Holocaust. Several attendees shared their own families’ experiences, while others reflected on the parallels between the world in 1939 and the rise in antisemitism we are witnessing today.”

Followiing news that two Israeli embassy workers had been killed in Washington D.C. on the night of May 21 by Elias Rodriguez, allegedly, who it was reported shouted, ““Free Free Palestine!” as he carried out the killings, NYC Mayor Eric Adams joined Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, the Rev. Al Sharpton, multifaith leaders, and members of the Jewish community the following day at the Center for Jewish History in Manhattan to denounce “the antisemitic murders of two Israeli embassy workers in our nation’s capital.” 

 

“Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim were a beautiful couple attending a young Jewish professionals event in our nation’s capital when their lives were senselessly ended in a horrific act of domestic terrorism,” the mayor said.

 

He added, “Violence against Jews and senseless killings like this one are the direct result of the rise in antisemitism and hate we are seeing across our country. This kind of violence is exactly what they mean when they say: “globalize the intifada,” and we must call it out — and that’s exactly what we did today. As mayor of the largest Jewish community outside of Israel, I wanted to bring together our faith, community, and administration leaders to make it clear: We will not be silent as antisemitic attacks like what we saw in D.C. take place.”

 

He continued, “We must call out this hate wherever we see it, without fear and with determination. That is how we turn the growing tide of antisemitism, not just in our city, but in our country. I hope today’s gathering at the @cjewishhistory acts as a reminder of the bond between our city and the people of Israel.”

 

He concluded, “May the memories of Yaron and Sarah be a blessing. I will be praying for their families and their loved ones heartbroken at what happened to these two precious souls.” The mayor had also recently joined other elected officials to march in a recent parade in Manhattan celebrating Jewish culture.

 

The NYPD said in response to the attack, “While there is no known nexus to NYC, in response to last night’s horrific attack in DC targeting Jews & Israelis, the NYPD is increasing its presence at religious sites & cultural institutions with high visibility patrols, heavy weapons teams, and counterterrorism officers.”

Meanwhile, Juliette Touma of UNRWA told BBC News on May 26 in relation to the latest blockade of aid into Gaza by the Israeli Defense Forces, which is causing thousands of Palestinians to starve, “What I do know is that people in Gaza are going through so much suffering. It’s extremely difficult to put into words. The needs are clear: 500–600 trucks of supplies must enter #Gaza daily. This can only be achieved through the United Nations under the leadership of UNRWA.”

 

Since the Oct. 7th 2023 attack on Israel, according to reporting from Al Jazeera, the Palestinian government media office has updated its death toll to more than 61,700, saying thousands of people missing under rubble are presumed dead. They said an estimated 1,139 people were killed in Israel during the Hamas-led attacks of Oct. 7, 2023, and more than 200 taken captive. According to various media reports, some have since been released, some were killed, and some still remain kidnapped.

 

Meanwhile, the group, “Bronx Neighbors 4 Palestine” recently circulated a flier on social media calling on residents to call their elected officials to ask the White House to demand Israel let food and aid into Gaza and alleviate starvation for thousands of Palestinians amid the ongoing conflict.

 

Elsewhere, on Wednesday, May 28, Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson will join the CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council in New York, Mark Treyger, for a Cheesecake Crawl in Riverdale, in recognition of the upcoming holiday of Shavuot and marking May as National Small Business Month. The will visit two Kosher Bakeries to sample and compare cheesecakes.

“In a world where hatred and war have dominated the headlines, it’s important to celebrate the things in life that give us joy and hope… food,” Gibson said. One explanation for why dairy products are eaten during Shavuot is that one of Mount Sinai’s many monikers is Mount Gavnunim. Gavnunim in Hebrew means, “many-peaked” and is related to the word gevinah, which is one of three Hebrew words for cheese. Eating cheese on Shavuot can be seen as a way of commemorating Moses receiving the Ten Commandments.

The VCJC was established as an Orthodox synagogue in 1927 and has been at its current location for the past 60 years. Since 2017, the Early Childhood Education Center operated by the Mosholu Montefiore Community Center has rented the top two floors of the building.

 

Spiegel confirmed that members voted in March to sell the building to Barone Management for $4 million, as reported. He told Norwood News, “VCJC will remain at the same location for the time being.” He added, “When the new owner builds a new building on the property, we will move in there. This is down the road, a number of years.”

 

Rodriguez is deemed innocent unless and until convicted in a court of law.