Rebecca Saidlower

ED of Community Mobilizers @ujafedny. Community building, the Jews, and the randomness of life in NYC. Tweets are my own.

[UJA-Federation of New York @UJAfedNY]

Bamba, anyone?

In response to the divisive and hate-driven boycott of Israeli products at the Park Slope Food Coop, UJA is buying those very products, starting with a purchase of 20,000 bags of Bamba.

Stay tuned as we distribute these beloved Israeli snacks at community events over the next few weeks — because we’re all better with Bamba. 🥜

[UJA-Federation of New York @UJAfedNY]

We commend @GovKathyHochul and the state legislature for taking decisive action to protect New Yorkers by passing ‘buffer zone’ legislation.

Read our statement: https://t.co/HcjqcQ8GQH

[Rebecca Saidlower @RSaidlower]

I am proud to have represented @UJAfedNY at this important gathering. An attack on a mosque is an attack against all of us. I stand in solidarity with my Muslim friends and community members, and mourn the victims of the shooting at the Islamic Center in San Diego.

[JCRC of New York @JCRCNY]

JCRC-NY and UJA-Federation of New York were proud to attend an interfaith vigil alongside Jewish communal leaders, faith leaders, and partners from across New York mourning the victims of the horrific attack at the Islamic Center of San Diego.

Every American must be able to pray, learn, and gather in community without fear. Attacks on houses of worship and schools are attacks on the foundations of religious freedom and human dignity in this country.

As a Jewish community that has experienced hatred and violence directed at our own sacred spaces, we stand in shared grief and solidarity with our Muslim brothers and sisters, and in unwavering opposition to religious hatred and intolerance in all its forms.

[UJA-Federation of New York @UJAfedNY]

We're horrified by yesterday's shooting at the Islamic Center in San Diego. Our hearts are with Southern California's Muslim community — no one should ever have to experience the pain of mourning their friends and family attacked at their house of worship.

[JCRC of New York @JCRCNY]

Join us on Sunday for the SHALOM DRAGON FAMILY FESTIVAL celebrating both Jewish American Heritage Month and Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage month! It'll be a celebration for the books featuring live music and dance, lion dancing, Krav Maga classes and more! We are so proud to partner on this event with Marks JCH, @CMSusanZhuang , and @UJAfedNY .

[UJA-Federation of New York @UJAfedNY]

Yesterday, we gathered alongside hundreds of elected officials, community leaders, members of the One Queens Against Hate Fellowship, @JCRCNY, and Jewish community members outside the Congregation Machane Chodosh in Queens.

[Mark Treyger 🍎 @MarkTreyger718]

Thank you, Council Member!

Looking forward to our annual joint AAPI & Jewish Heritage Month celebration “Shalom Dragon” in partnership with CM @susanzhuangnyc , Marks JCH of Bensonhurst, @JCRCNY @UJAfedNY and many other wonderful community partners!

[Rebecca Saidlower @RSaidlower]

Amen to this.

[JCRC of New York @JCRCNY]

There is absolutely no place in our city for violence, threats, or attempts to take someone’s life—ever. While we adamantly disagree with Nerdeen Kiswani’s inflammatory rhetoric and her organization’s tactics, we condemn in the strongest possible terms the reported plot against her. We are grateful to the NYPD, FBI, and our law enforcement partners for thwarting this attack. Their vigilance reminds us every day that New York is safest when we reject violence, uphold the rule of law for all, and give thanks for the best police department in the world—the NYPD.

[Speaker Julie Menin @SpeakerMenin]

Political violence is never acceptable, and the rise of such threats across our country is deeply concerning.

I’m thankful to the NYPD and FBI for preventing this disturbing planned attack.

[Rebecca Saidlower @RSaidlower]

This kind of political violence is unacceptable.

[Governor Kathy Hochul @GovKathyHochul]

No one should be targeted or live in fear of violence for expressing their beliefs.

Grateful to law enforcement for swiftly disrupting this abhorrent plot.

[Kegham Balian @kbalian90]

BREAKING: Rabbi Yehuda Gilad, head of Yeshivat Ma’ale Gilboa, visited Khirbet Humsa in the West Bank following a settler pogrom in which a 29-year-old Palestinian farmer was sexually assaulted, his family was beaten, and hundreds of his sheep were stolen.

Below is his full statement, translated from Hebrew:

Letter from the Head of the Yeshiva, Rabbi Yehuda Gilad

With God’s help, Rosh Chodesh Nisan — “a time of atonement for all their generations”

Yesterday I went through a very difficult and deeply disturbing experience. I visited Khirbet Humsa (about a 30-minute drive from our yeshiva), where a pogrom carried out by hilltop youth took place about a week ago.

I heard the details of what happened there from several sources, including Ruti — a woman I have known for years and trust completely.

It turns out that in the early hours of the night, a group of rioters (around 30–40 people) arrived, equipped with sticks and many zip ties. They bound the men (and apparently also two foreign volunteers, though I am not certain of this), and then beat them all over their bodies with fists and clubs. We saw many remnants of the zip ties on the ground. The men required treatment at the hospital in Afula for injuries of varying severity. At the same time, the attackers stole the entire herd — about 300 head — belonging to the few families living there, under unimaginable conditions of poverty.

At first, I heard that there had also been sexual violence, and I did not believe it…

Yesterday we arrived at the site with Ruti, a friend of mine who is well known to them. When they saw us — Rabbi Avidan Friedman and myself — they visibly recoiled in terror and anxiously pointed to the kippot on our heads. Ruti tried to calm them, explaining that we were not among the attackers. Even so, at the beginning of the meeting, they were hesitant and afraid.

I heard directly from a young man — a firsthand witness — what had happened there. From his face, the blue bruise in his eye, and his sorrowful expression, it was clear he was telling the truth. In that same conversation (with the help of a translator), he described in detail the prolonged abuse they endured while bound. Then, with deep shame, he told us something I had previously found impossible to believe.

I find it difficult — my hands tremble as I write this about Jews — and yet I will write it, because I am convinced it indeed happened. Yes, these wicked individuals bound his genitals in an extremely painful way — not to mention the humiliation involved.

These events recall the pogroms our ancestors endured in various diasporas. Have we become like the worst of the nations?

I want to turn to the question: what should be done? But I feel that I am still at the stage of crying out.

Alas — what has become of us!

[Rebecca Saidlower @RSaidlower]

Was great to collaborate with @JCRCNY and host this Jewish-Latine Seder! @UJAfedNY

[JCRC of New York @JCRCNY]

Last night, JCRC-NY hosted its first-ever Latino-Jewish Seder, celebrating the deep connections—and overlaps—between the Jewish and Latino communities. As we retold the story of the Exodus and shared matzah and wine, we reflected on its resonance with today’s struggles for freedom, resilience, and justice, building stories and solidarity together.

[Rebecca Saidlower @RSaidlower]

Proud to have helped organize a group of interfaith clergy to join this effort with @UJAfedNY and @JCRCNY. Was an inspiring day in Albany!

[UJA-Federation of New York @UJAfedNY]

Yesterday, UJA leaders, our community, and a diverse coalition of interfaith leaders met with @GovKathyHochul to discuss safeguarding access to houses of worship.

We're grateful for Governor Hochul’s steadfast leadership and commitment to this critical effort.

[JCRC of New York @JCRCNY]

Today, JCRC-NY convened our inaugural Annual Meeting of the New York Jewish Coalition, bringing together leaders from over 50 New York–based Jewish organizations to discuss the most pressing issues facing our community. We explored our collective strengths, areas for growth, and how to better leverage our networks—both Jewish and non-Jewish—to support the vitality of New York’s Jewish community and our broader society.

Thank you to Yehuda Kurtzer of the @Hartman_Inst for a powerful learning session, to our panelists for thoughtful conversations on education, security, and civic engagement, and to @UJAfedNY for hosting us. We’re grateful to everyone who participated and helped make the day meaningful.

#jewishunity #jewishpride #newyork

[New York City Council @NYCCouncil]

“Our work today is not just about passing laws. It’s about creating a culture where hate and bias are not tolerated.”

Today, @CMYusefSalaam joined @SpeakerMenin and faith leaders to reaffirm that New York City must remain a place where all people are included, safe, and valued.

[Speaker Julie Menin @SpeakerMenin]

Today, we are standing with faith leaders — Jewish, Muslim, and Christian — to combat hate in all its forms.

Our @NYCCouncil is protecting safe access to houses of worship and schools, while upholding all New Yorkers’ free speech and religious rights.

[UJA-Federation of New York @UJAfedNY]

We’re horrified by tonight’s car ramming attack at Chabad World Headquarters in Brooklyn. We’re thankful that a suspect is in custody and no one was hurt. UJA and our Community Security Initiative remain in close touch with local community leaders and NYPD.

[Yaacov Behrman @ChabadLubavitch]

A car just drove into the side doors of 770 at Chabad Headquarters. Baruch Hashem, there are no injuries. Witnesses report the driver yelled for people to move as he drove in. It appears intentional. The synagogue has been evacuated as a precaution.

Please stay away from the area while authorities ensure there are no additional threats.

Driver was arrested.

[UJA-Federation of New York @UJAfedNY]

With Ran Gvili, z"l, finally home, we’ve removed our hostage tags and yellow ribbons at last.

Now, we're partnering with @bringhomenow to launch The Hostage Tag Project, collecting tags and pins from across our community to transform them into a public, commemorative art piece.

[US Holocaust Museum @HolocaustMuseum]

Anne Frank was targeted and murdered solely because she was Jewish. Leaders making false equivalencies to her experience for political purposes is never acceptable. Despite tensions in Minneapolis, exploiting the Holocaust is deeply offensive, especially as antisemitism surges.