h. nazan ışık —

9 October 2023 —

On 7 October Hamas attacked Israel, and New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Monday night, 9 October, held a vigil for the victims in Israel. 

The vigil was held at Golda Meir Square in Midtown.

When I arrived an array of candles in the shape of the Star of David were set with white flowers.

© h. nazan ışık

I can’t say it was very crowded, there were some men wrapped in Israeli flags and others. But advocates, elected officials and rabbis who were there to support the Israeli community made the crowd. © h. nazan ışık

The vigil started with “My name is Fabien Levy, deputy mayor for Communications for the City of New York. First, I’d like to introduce Rabbi Dovid Goldwasser for a prayer tonight.”

After Rabbi Dovid Goldwasser’s prayer, a long prayer, New York City mayor Eric Adam with fellow elected officials and guests lit the array of candles in the shape of the Star of David.

Mayor Adams lighting a candle. © h.nazan ışık

New York City mayor, Eric Adams: “Can we just have a moment of silence “

Moment of silence  © h. nazan ışık

Mayor Eric Adams and other leaders gathered in Golda Meir Square on Monday to show support for the Israeli community in New York City          © h. nazan ışık

New York City mayor, Eric Adams: “ I am…I am devastated, and I am angry. And I am going to really refrain from allowing that anger to really display the human part of me. But I am in so much pain from what I saw and what I witnessed. Nothing can justify pulling innocent children from their homes, murdering them, dragging them through the streets, laying your feet across their bodies. Nothing can justify what we witnessed. Nothing can justify what we witnessed.”

An attendee was crying while the Mayor spoke.  © h.nazan ışık 

“Yes, I stand with Israel”  said Mayor Eric Adams.

Mayor Eric Adams spoke at the vigil © h. nazan ışık

New York City mayor, Eric Adams: “It is not acceptable what we witnessed in Israel— not acceptable.

And you cannot rationalize it. You cannot state how it was done and why it was done. It was clear that it was anger, antisemitism at the highest level, 

And no one should be celebrating this— no one. Humanity should be angry.” 

“Yes, I stand with Israel. Yes, I stand with the Jewish community.” 

“Israel has a right to defend itself. Israel has a right to protect itself.” said Mayor Eric Adams.

A girl, wrapped in an  Israeli flag arranging the candles. © h. nazan ışık

In the shape of the Star of David, arranged candles were lit at Golda Meir Square in Times Square. © h. nazan ışık

Photographs © h. nazan ışık 

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