10,000 Jews Expected for ‘Circle of Unity’ Gathering in Central Park in Honor of Oct. 7 Anniversary
by Shiryn Ghermezian
Pro-Israel rally in Times Square, New York City, US, Oct. 8, 2023. Photo: REUTERS/Jeenah Moon
An estimated 10,000 Jews are expected to gather on the Great Lawn in Manhattan’s Central Park on Tuesday for a “Circle of Unity” in honor of the second anniversary of the deadly Oct. 7 terrorist attack in southern Israel.
The gathering will take place on the first day of Sukkot and will be a unified celebration of Jewish life, identity, and resilience. Mourning is prohibited on Sukkot according to Jewish tradition, so the event will instead be a joyous celebration in memory of those murdered on Oct. 7, 2023. Attendees will be “dancing for those who can no longer dance” and “celebrating Jewish identity and tradition for those who no longer can,” according to a press release for the event. “Together, they will form a literal circle around the Great Lawn, celebrating Jewish life and identity in unison, a living statement of Jewish unity, pride, and permanence.” The event will transform “loss into renewed public commitment to Jewish presence and joy.”
Organizers said the “Circle of Unity” will represent “a joyful, visible alternative to narratives of fear, decline, or retreat in Jewish public life.” Participants will also have the opportunity to shake a lulav (palm branch) and etrog (citron), which is customary to do on the holiday of Sukkot. Local politicians and other notable figures are expected to attend.
The “Circle of Unity” is being organized by some of the same people who coordinated Manhattan’s largest Torah dedication on Oct. 7 last year including Jewish activist Yair Klyman, local rabbis, Chabad Houses, and Jewish communities in New York City. The initiative is backed in part by the Simchas Torah Challenge, which was launched by philanthropist Dan Loeb and led to thousands pledging to learn Torah daily in memory of those murdered on the holiday of Simchah Torah on Oct. 7, 2023. Jewish organizations such as the Jewish National Fund, the Israeli-American Council, and the Hostage and Missing Families Forum are backing the event.
