NEW YORK – New York City is home to the largest Jewish population of any city in the world, according to the Mayor’s Office, and nearly half of the city’s Jews live in Brooklyn.
The ongoing war in Israel, started by a terrorist attack from Hamas on a Jewish holiday on Saturday that experts say marks the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust, has prompted thousands of people in the borough to jump to action.
Ariel Glazer, a father from Brooklyn and a veteran of the Israel Defense Forces, effortlessly finds his purpose amidst pain. Upon learning that his army reserves unit required specialized backpacks, he wasted no time and initiated a fundraising campaign. In a matter of hours, the backpacks were purchased and promptly delivered to Israel on Tuesday.
According to Glazer, backpacks have always held significant value for him as they serve as crucial equipment. He emphasizes that there are instances where one may have to walk for hours or even days, carrying a weight ranging from 50 to 100 pounds on their back.
He is among a multitude of local Jews striving to do whatever they can to offer assistance.
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“What are the differences between the Nazis and Hamas? The Nazis, when they were murdering Jews, were actually hiding it. They didn’t want people to know. This organization, they were proud of the murder of children,” says Dov Hikind, founder of Americans Against Antisemitism.
On Tuesday, Hikind, a former Democratic New York State Assemblymember, channeled his anger into action by boarding a plane headed for Tel Aviv.
He states, “Although I’ve been there numerous times, this particular instance holds immense significance in terms of being physically present.”
Other Jewish organizations have also remained there despite the danger, including Eric Goldstein, Chief Executive Officer of UJA Federation New York.
On Tuesday, Goldstein informed CBS New York’s Hannah Kliger that he had a meeting with the president of Israel and his wife. The purpose of the discussion was to emphasize the significance of the New York Jewish community, as well as the importance of all communities supporting the country’s requirements.
The charitable organization has already disbursed $10 million in emergency funding and has subsequently raised an additional $20 million.
Brooklyn’s Borough Park is also the headquarters of Chevra Hatzalah, the largest nonprofit ambulance service in the country.
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More than 100 of the organization’s ambulance volunteers are currently in Jerusalem along with CEO Rabbi Yehiel Kalish’s wife, daughter, and newborn grandson.
Kalish says that Hatzolah members are dedicated to saving lives, so if we attempted to contact them and request their return, they would simply hang up on us.
The majority of these volunteers were on vacation to commemorate a Jewish holiday, but they quickly had to transition into emergency mode to attend to a large number of casualties. Kalish affirms that this is precisely the scenario they are prepared for through their training.
Israeli paramedics are engaged in providing assistance in hazardous areas, while these volunteers are stepping in to address routine medical emergencies. Additionally, the organization based in Brooklyn is actively involved in distributing supplies within the local community.
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He says that they are currently filled with great determination and focus. However, once the situation settles, you can expect something impactful to happen.
This comes as thousands of local congregations join in prayer daily.
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