Hundreds of Jews from the Bronx and of Westchester Jewish communities gathered before Pesach on the south lawn of Ridge Hill 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.”

Rabbi Levi Groner, co-director of Chabad of Pelham, explained that “this is a special Hakhel year, which occurs every seven years. This year, we had the idea to do an event pre-Passover. We decided to create a concert and festival. I don’t know if there is any better time than before Pesach, the most observed Jewish holiday.”

Robert Kalfus can be reached at [email protected] or (917) 379-4165.