• Brooklyn
  • Manhattan
Thursday, January 21, 2021
Newsletter
Queens County Politics
  • News
    • Activism
    • Arts, Sports & Leisure
    • Community Close-Up
    • Education
    • Election
    • Government
      • City Government
      • State Government
      • Federal Government
    • Legislation/Policy
    • Opinion
    • Profile
    • Transportation
  • About
  • Contact Us
 
  • News
    • Activism
    • Arts, Sports & Leisure
    • Community Close-Up
    • Education
    • Election
    • Government
      • City Government
      • State Government
      • Federal Government
    • Legislation/Policy
    • Opinion
    • Profile
    • Transportation
  • About
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
Queens County Politics
No Result
View All Result

BLM Protests Offer Hope for Black-Jewish Relations

Michael Rock by Michael Rock
June 5, 2020
in Community Close-Up
0
There, the Jewish Community Council of the Rockaway Peninsula (JCCRP) actively participated in organizing a Black Lives Matter demonstration  protest for the remote Queens neighborhood. Contributed photo

There, the Jewish Community Council of the Rockaway Peninsula (JCCRP) actively participated in organizing a Black Lives Matter demonstration protest for the remote Queens neighborhood. Contributed photo

0
SHARES
316
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

As Black Lives Matter protests grip the city, organizers and activists have found solidarity from an unexpected demographic: Orthodox Jews.

In recent years, relations between New York’s black and Jewish communities have deteriorated. Some black New Yorkers resent their Jewish neighbors for reasons ranging from preferential treatment from authorities to their visible presence among the city’s most exploitative landlords. Much of the Jewish community has become suspicious of black people after some have emerged as suspects in a number of noteworthy antisemitic hate crimes and hostility to the State of Israel in many black activist circles.

Despite these tensions, the Orthodox community has begun to demonstrate solidarity with Black Lives Matter in various ways. Some efforts have been small but significant gestures, as in a viral Reddit video showing a Hasidic man handing out water bottles to marchers.

 
Former Assemblyman Dov Hikind
Assembly Member Simcha Eichenstein
Assembly Member Simcha Eichenstein

Meanwhile, former Brooklyn Assemblymember and Hasidic community advocate Dov Hikind (D), who some have alleged promotes racism, announced that he is hosting a Sunday march to honor the memory of George Floyd at 11 a.m. on Ocean Parkway and Avenue J. In a video posted to social media, Hikind explained what motivated him to show such support.

“What happened to George Floyd was an injustice,” he said. “It was unconscionable what happened to him, and I as a Jew feel a responsibility, a moral responsibility to stand up and speak out and address to the family that we care, I care, and my community cares.”

Hikind’s successor Assemblymember Simcha Eichenstein, a Hasidic Jew, also posted a video calling for justice in the George Floyd killing.

Perhaps the strongest solidarity yet has been at a demonstration in Far Rockaway. There, the Jewish Community Council of the Rockaway Peninsula (JCCRP) actively participated in organizing a protest for the remote Queens neighborhood.

“It’s Jewish tradition to stand up & fight for justice,” said JCCRP Executive Director Moshe Brandsdorfer. “We stood together with our black neighbors and friends to fight inequality and hate. It is our deepest hope that these protests bring about the changes so desperately needed.”

In a video posted to the Instagram page @jews_of_ny, an organizer of the Far Rockaway protest expressed appreciation for Jewish solidarity. “Let me thank the allies who are here that don’t have to be here: the Jewish community. Thank you for being here,” he said. “You didn’t have to stand with us, but you did.”

Mark Meyer Appel and Jewish activist Jeff Lev at the Black and Jewish demonstration in Far Rockaway.

Also attending the Far Rockaway demonstration was Orthodox Jew Mark Meyer Appel, founder of the Bridge Multicultural Advocacy Project in Brooklyn.

All the Jewish communities are outraged by this senseless killing and we have to deal with it as a united community of Jews blacks and Muslims united,” Appel said.

City Councilmember Donovan Richards.

In response to the protest, Councilmember Donovan Richards (D-Arverne, Brookville, Edgemere, Far Rockaway, Laurelton, Rosedale, Springfield Gardens,) expressed optimism that a new era of black-Jewish solidarity could be emerging, saying that their struggles are more similar and different and stronger together than apart.

“Black and Jewish communities in America have historically faced similar exclusion and hatred. There can be no denying that,” said Richards. “The support of our Jewish neighbors shows that they can empathize with our plight and highlights how we often face the same overwhelming hate and hurt in our communities. We all want to be able to live our lives free from threats of violence and systemic oppression. We must stand united to overcome these challenges.” 

Despite these reasons to hope, some key figures have been quiet about these new opportunities. City Council Jewish Caucus Chair Chaim Deutsch (D-Brighton Beach, Manhattan Beach, Sheepshead Bay, Homecrest, Midwood), along with Karen Koslowitz (D-Forest Hills, Forest Park, Kew Gardens, Rego Park, Richmond Hill), the caucus’ vice-chair, both declined to comment.

Tags: African AmericansAfrican-American IssuesBlack-Jewish RelationsBlacksCity Council Jewish CaucusCity Councilwoman Karen KoslowitzCouncilmember Donovan RichardsHassidic JewsJewqueensQueens Politics
Previous Post

Queens Lawmakers on the Move June 5, 2020

Next Post

Miranda Slams Ramos, Moya & Cruz for Not Working with NYPD

Michael Rock

Michael Rock

Michael Rock is a New York-based blogger and journalist. In addition to his personal blog, The Disaffected American, his work has been published on WhoWhatWhy, Forward, News Cult, The Times of Israel, and HistoryBuff.

Next Post
A commercial street in Jackson Heights on March 8, 2020. Photo by Clarissa Sosin

Miranda Slams Ramos, Moya & Cruz for Not Working with NYPD

Subscribe to Our Daily Newsletter!

Podcast: Black & Jewish

Chaya and Ariama with the logo for "Black & Jewish" logo
 

Today's Top Read

  • Photo from candidate's Twitter

    Accusations of Anti-Semitism Fly After Tweet Draws Controversy in District 24 Special Election

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • It’s ‘Community First’ for Council Candidate Dr. Neeta Jain

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Pass the Baby Bottle – It Ain’t a Torch but It’ll Do

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Queens Lawmakers on the Move Jan. 15, 2021

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • The Skinny on Ranked Choice Voting

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
Queens County Politics

©2020 Never Sink Media

Check out other local political news!

  • Brooklyn
  • Manhattan

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • About
  • Contact Us

©2020 Never Sink Media