More than 3,000 young Jews gathered on the East Side in Midtown Manhattan on Monday night—the beginning of the sixth day of Sukkot—in what event organizers said was the borough’s largest sukkah ever.
Chabad Young Professionals hosted the event in a 5,000-square-foot sukkah near the Field of Light at Freedom Plaza installation by British artist Bruce Munro, close to the headquarters of the United Nations. Attendees sipped drinks and ate sushi during a joyful yet poignant event as the one-year anniversary of the Hebrew date of the Hamas terrorist attacks on Oct. 7, 2023—the holiday of Shemini Atzeret—approaches.
“A lot of people tonight told me that last year’s event, which was held a day before Oct. 7, was the last event they went to before their lives changed completely,” Avi Winner, the director of marketing and media relations at Chabad, told JNS.
Winner added that the last year has been “completely different for Jews everywhere, and what we learned and what I have been hearing is that we have to focus more on being prouder and stronger, celebrating our Jewish identity, our holidays and our traditions.”
“Sukkot is the festival of joy,” he said. “Although we have many reasons not to be joyous now, the Jewish response is always not to lose our identity but to be joyous, bigger and stronger.”
Joy as protest
Erin Weinreich was one of those present to celebrate. She attended last year’s Chabad Young Professionals event as well, held in Midtown Manhattan at the New York Public Library.
“It feels 10 million times more celebratory than last year’s event,” she told JNS. “I have never seen more Jews in one location and from all over the world. This is us protesting.”
“The other side screams and shows fear,” she added. “We present joy and happiness.”
Sheena Hakimian, a life coach and marketing strategist who attends Chabad Young Professionals events regularly, told JNS that at Monday night’s event, “we all had more purpose going in.”
“Last year was beautiful, but this year was even more beautiful. We were dancing to music that is part of our collective culture, and it was also a great venue,” she said. “Since Oct. 7, I think all the Jewish people just feel more connected. There is definitely a different type of energy that I feel going into these types of events.”
Divine security
Winner told JNS that security is always a concern, and the group is “very collaborative” with the New York City Police Department.
JNS observed police cars stationed near the entrance to the event site, and security personnel scanned each guest prior to entry.
“We can’t let our enemies and the opposition stop us from being who we are,” Winner said. “That would be giving them the win. We trust in God and do our part responsibly.”
Hakimian told JNS that she doesn’t fear for her safety at Jewish events in New York City. “I have full trust in Chabad and the rabbis and their ability to work with the right people,” she said.
Another guest, who gave her name only as Miriam, told JNS that this was her first year attending the event. “I flew in from Israel, and I’m not scared at all,” she said. “Hashem is everywhere, and he’s got out back.”
Being with fellow Jews in New York City also helps, said attendees.
“I’m personally excited to be around people like me, that share similar values and I felt that there,” Hakimian said. “We’re all aligned and together on this mission of being the best Jews we could possibly be.”