Jews from Westchester and The Bronx Assemble! For Hakhel

Chabad of Yonkers Rabbi Mendy Hurwitz receives a proclamation from Adam Levine representing Yonkers Mayor Spano, proclaiming the Lubavitcher Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson’s dedication to education. Photos by Robert Kalfus

band Pumpidisia performing

 crowds enjoying the performance

Hakhel Celebration in Yonkers

By Robert Kalfus

      In ancient times every seven years Jewish men, women, and children would gather at the Temple on the first day of Sukkot to hear the king of Jerusalem read aloud from the Torah. The gathering was practiced in Jerusalem until the Second Temple was destroyed at 70 CE. There now is no king, and the Temple does not stand, but the ritual continues to inspire Jews from around the world to gather together. The tradition known as Hakhel – “Assemble!” in Hebrew – and appears to be seeing a resurgence of popular interest, especially inspired in mid-20th century by the Hasidic Chabad Lubavitch Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson, who focused the gathering on the spirit of gathering and education of children. Hakhel’s explicit inclusion of women and children makes it an attractive ritual for many Jews today.

      Hundreds of Jews from the Bronx and of Westchester Jewish communities gathered on the south lawn of Ridge Hill, next to Whole Foods, and celebrated Hakhel, a Torah commandment to “Gather the people – men, women, children, and the strangers in your communities – that they may hear and so learn and revere your God and observe faithfully every word of His teaching.”

      Ten NY Chabads from Westchester and The Bronx united to create the Jewish Unity Celebration’s free activities which included pre-Passover crafts, balloon art, a petting zoo, music by Pumpidisa, one of Jewish music’s most popular bands, cotton candy, face painting, and kosher snacks available for a charge.Rabbi Levi Groner, co-director of Chabad of Pelham, explained “this is a special Hakhel year, which occurs every seven years. This year, we had the idea to do an event pre-Passover” occurring just three days before Pesach. “We decided to create a concert and festival since this, a Hakhel year, which occurs even seven years. I don’t know if there is any better time than before Pesach, the most observed Jewish holiday. Pesach is a time when we all get together and is therefore a special time to have this event.”

      Passover begins at after sundown on Wednesday evening, April 5^{th  and continues for eight days.}