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NYC rabbis arrested while protesting hunger in Gaza
By
Charles Lane
Published Jul 29, 2025
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Courtesy Harold Levine
By
Charles Lane
Published Jul 29, 2025
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Police arrested and issued summonses to eight rabbis who blocked traffic during a pro-humanitarian aid protest Monday night, officials said.
An NYPD spokesperson said the incident happened around 6 p.m. during a planned demonstration outside the Israeli Consulate on Second Avenue and 43rd Street.
Organizers said the arrests were noteworthy because it was the first time a group of rabbis the Jewish community's political center had risked arrest over the war in Gaza.
“The protests we've typically seen at the Israeli Consulate in places like that are from the further left of the community,” said Phylisa Wisdom, executive director of New York Jewish Agenda. “This represents an escalation from rabbis in this political lane.”
Those arrested included Rabbi Rachel Timoner of Congregation Beth Elohim in Brooklyn, Rabbi Jason Klein of Congregation Beit Simchat Torah in Manhattan, Rabbi Dianne Cohler-Esses with Romemu on the Upper West Side and Rabbi Deena Cowans of B’nai Jeshurun on the Upper West Side.
Wisdom said 11 rabbis in total joined the act of civil disobedience, but only eight were arrested because the NYPD was simultaneously responding to the mass shooting at a nearby office tower.
Tagged
Race And Justice Unit
manhattan
new york city
public safety
Charles Lane
Charles is a Day-of reporter focused on breaking news and enterprise. He’s very friendly and can be reached at [email protected], or more securely on whatsapp/signal 631-295-6715
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