On May 18, The Jewish Center of the Upper West Side in Manhattan hosted a Yom Yerushalayim celebration for the community. The event was sponsored by The Jewish Center, Congregation Ohab Zedek, Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun, West Side Sephardic Synagogue, Congregation Ohav Shalom, Manhattan Day School, Hudson Yards Synagogue, Congregation Ramath Orah, Lincoln Square Synagogue, West Side Institutional Synagogue, and Kehilath Rayim Ahuvim.

Event chair Tehillah Blech welcomed the crowd with memorable words.

Blech stated that when she first visited Israel in 1972 with her family, they went to the Kotel and her father immediately started crying. Blech asked her father why he was so upset and he explained that his tears were tears of joy, as the last time he was in Israel he was not able to go to the Kotel.

Blech noted that, unlike her father, most in the room were too young to remember a time when there was no unified Jerusalem, and stressed that we cannot take for granted that Jerusalem is now in our hands.

The evening’s festivities evoked a “shuk experience.” Attendees were able to partake in Israeli cuisine such as falafel, shawarma and sabich, and a sampling of Israeli wine, beer, and olive oil. Kids participated in cookie decorating and face painting with blue, white and yellow colors. And, of course, fierce shesh besh (backgammon) games were played.

All enjoyed musical performances and a Tefillah Chagigit by Jonathan Green, Zak Benarroch, Ari Mandelbaum and Zevi Muller, accompanied by Jonathan Rimberg of Nafshenu Orchestra and Mike Cohen.

“Next Year in Jerusalem” was sung by all.

By Judith Falk