The global “Ride to Bring Them Home Now” was the brainchild of Chris Froome, four-time winner of the Tour de France, who currently rides on Israel’s cycling team, Israel-Premier Tech. The local ride took place last Sunday, January 14 as a 35-mile ride passing by 39 synagogues in Tenafly, Englewood, Fort Lee, Leonia and Teaneck. The ride began and ended in Tenafly, pushing off at 9 a.m.
(Credit: Michael Ratzker)
Approximately 75 Jewish and non-Jewish riders joined from Long Island, West Orange, Brooklyn, New York City, Monsey, and additional northern New Jersey communities. Some of the cities where riders participated were Adelaide (Canada), Johannesburg, London, Marbella (Spain), Sao Paulo (Brazil) and Tel Aviv.
(Credit: Viviana Epstein)
Kenny Horowitz, who coordinated information and logistics locally, belongs to many riding groups here and in Israel. He said he was organizing a ride in the area after the Israel Premier-Tech cycling team video had posted this global event, #RideToBringThemHomeNow, on various cycling social media platforms.
“I created the 35-mile route to pass 39 local synagogues in order to unite the riders with the communities,” Horowitz said. “We had a vehicle following us, but for the most part, the riders stayed together and helped each other,” he noted when asked about security concerns.
“The ride was meant for us, so that we don’t become complacent and that we keep the war and hostage situation front and center in our lives. There was a great feeling of camaraderie among us.
(Credit: Doron Rice)
“It wasn’t meant to be an ‘in-your-face’ counter-rally towards the aggressive, violent pro-Palestinians and the way they conduct themselves,” he emphasized. “And the proof is that we rode peacefully through a Muslim neighborhood with a mosque in Teaneck. In fact, we all stopped at the Young Israel of Fort Lee for a group picture, the scene of a nasty pro-Palestinian rally back in November that I personally witnessed.
“Many of us have family and friends in Israel, and I have two daughters studying in Jerusalem. But the real connecting bond underneath all of this is that we are humane. Anyone who chants ‘Cease-fire’ and ignores the Oct 7th atrocities instead of chanting ‘Bring them home now’ is inhumane. Pick a side. It’s as basic as that. We are all in this together.”
#BringThemHomeNow.
