14 | JANUARY 16 • 2020 Jews in the D continued from page 12 building better bridges between all denominations of Jews, and between Jews and non-Jews, ” said Eric S. Goldstein, CEO of UJA-Federation of New York. “Building bridges means putting aside our differences, religious and political, and call- ing out anti-Semitism and all forms of hate wherever we see it. The purpose of today’ s march is to loudly and publicly pro- claim that an attack on a visibly Orthodox Jew is an attack on every Jew, an attack on every New Yorker and an attack on every person of good will. ” Young and old, families with children in strollers, groups in brightly colored hats and individuals waving Israeli flags came in a steady stream across the bridge for hours, emerg- ing into Cadman Plaza for a program featuring speeches by community leaders as well as music by singer Matisyahu and Jewish a cappella group the Maccabeats. Sternberg, who moved to New Jersey six months ago, said she feels the march’ s mes- sage, which brought together Jews and allies, is universal. “While this was an event that happened in New York, it was really for everybody,” she said. “Though it rallied around recent events in the New York tri-state area, the same things that we were out there marching for, raising our voic- es, rallying for in New York are things that are relevant in Detroit, in Cleveland, that are relevant all over the world.” Ann Arbor native Ari Axelrod, an actor and director who moved to New York in 2016 and lives in Manhattan, said though he is active and out- spoken on social media about the steep rise in anti-Semitism and how to fight it, he ulti- mately decided not to attend Sunday’ s rally. He’ d heard about it well in advance and even made plans to meet people there, but Friday morning’ s news of a strike that killed Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani convinced him to stay home. “I think that stirred the pot a little too much, ” he said. “I wasn’ t confident that I would be safe or that the community would be safe. I’ m thrilled that I was proven wrong, but I wasn’ t in a place to take that chance. ” While the march provided a space for solidarity and visibil- ity, he said, it has to be part of something bigger, and lead to action. “I think it’ s great, but I think it has to be paired with something ‘ stickier’ that can actually hold more potential for change. It can’ t be an iso- lated event.” Rokeya Akhter, who marched with the Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom and co-leads its Queens chapter, said she saw the march as a chance to “pray with our feet” and support unity. “Whenever one of us is hurt, we are all hurt, ” she said. “I think that was the biggest part about it for me, the ability for an incredibly divided Jewish community to rally together in that way.” — RABBI LEAH STERNBERG JAN 2 5 734.764.2538 — — —UMS.ORG “Only Vänskä could deliver a Sibelius Symphony that promises to be as exciting as this.” (The Times, London) MINNES OT A ORCHES T RA Saturday 8 pm Hill Auditorium Osmo Vänskä, conductor Elina Vähälä, violin UMS Choral Union Presenting Sponsors: Frances Mauney Lohr Choral Union Endowment Fund Supporting Sponsors: James and Nancy Stanley, Gerald (Jay) and Christine Zelenock, and the UMS Medical Community Endowment Fund ALL-SIBELIUS PROGRAM Snöfrid (Snowy Peace), Op. 29 Violin Concerto in d minor, Op. 47 JAN 21 - FEB 2 • FISHER THEATRE ON SALE NOW BroadwayInDetroit.com, ticketmaster.com, 800-982-2787 & box office 313-872-1000; Groups (12+) Groups@BroadwayInDetroit.com (subject: A Bronx Tale) or 313-871-1132; and oc Jan 26.