Atonement at Occupy Wall Street- Yom Kippur Service Held Adjacent to Demonstrations
Saturday, October 8th, 2011
While Occupy Wall Street protesters carried on chants, sign-holding, and marching bands in Zuccotti Park on October 7th, a group of a few hundred Jewish attendees gathered across the street for a unique Yom Kippur service next to the Brown Brothers Harriman building at 7 PM. Participants circled around the prayer leaders who stood in the middle and read from traditional prayer books and print-outs.
Customary of all Occupy Wall Street speeches and events, the services were echoed by the voices of attendees in order to amplify the speaker's message in the absence of microphones.
“I'm glad you all were willing to brace the elements and the NYPD to join with us tonight,” one of the prayer-leaders announced, which, of course, was then repeated by the entire crowd.
Unlike typical Kol Nidre services that focus on the atonement of one's sins from the year passed, Wall Street's theme revolved around the corruption of the financial sector and the necessity for morality, justice, and equality. In line with the idea, the services were non-denominational and egalitarian. Some wore suits and prayer shawls, while others wore street clothes.
“[Rather] than spending the holiday safe and warm in our cozy synagogues thinking abstractly about human suffering, perhaps we should truly afflict ourselves and undertake the fast of Isaiah, by joining the demonstrators in Zuccotti Park, and holding our Yom Kippur services there amongst the oppressed, hungry, poor and naked,” the facebook event read.
Overall, it seemed that participants were impressed by the turnout. Zeke Mermell, who said it was his first time attending Occupy Wall Street, called the gathering “a visual triumph,” and referred to the events as “history in the making.”
Randall Chamberlain, 42, said it was also his first time attending Occupy Wall Street, and was moved by the evening of prayers. “I thought it was really nice to see a community of people combining their Jewish practice with their values.”
Not everyone was pleased with the theme. Morgan Sender and Jackson Krule, both 19-year-old NYU students, felt that although the services were a nice alternative to the traditional long Synagogue sessions, the setting didn’t adhere to the fundamental basis of the service. “Yom Kippur is more for introspection,” Krule said. “Not really judging others.”
The Kol Nidre service at Occupy Wall Street was likely one more way to gain publicity, accommodate the diverse group of protesters, and perhaps for some at the park, even bring God into the struggle.
“I'm glad you all were willing to brace the elements and the NYPD to join with us tonight,” one of the prayer-leaders announced, which, of course, was then repeated by the entire crowd.
Unlike typical Kol Nidre services that focus on the atonement of one's sins from the year passed, Wall Street's theme revolved around the corruption of the financial sector and the necessity for morality, justice, and equality. In line with the idea, the services were non-denominational and egalitarian. Some wore suits and prayer shawls, while others wore street clothes.
“[Rather] than spending the holiday safe and warm in our cozy synagogues thinking abstractly about human suffering, perhaps we should truly afflict ourselves and undertake the fast of Isaiah, by joining the demonstrators in Zuccotti Park, and holding our Yom Kippur services there amongst the oppressed, hungry, poor and naked,” the facebook event read.
Overall, it seemed that participants were impressed by the turnout. Zeke Mermell, who said it was his first time attending Occupy Wall Street, called the gathering “a visual triumph,” and referred to the events as “history in the making.”
Randall Chamberlain, 42, said it was also his first time attending Occupy Wall Street, and was moved by the evening of prayers. “I thought it was really nice to see a community of people combining their Jewish practice with their values.”
Not everyone was pleased with the theme. Morgan Sender and Jackson Krule, both 19-year-old NYU students, felt that although the services were a nice alternative to the traditional long Synagogue sessions, the setting didn’t adhere to the fundamental basis of the service. “Yom Kippur is more for introspection,” Krule said. “Not really judging others.”
The Kol Nidre service at Occupy Wall Street was likely one more way to gain publicity, accommodate the diverse group of protesters, and perhaps for some at the park, even bring God into the struggle.
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