Wednesday, June 18, 2025
On Holocaust Remembrance Day, known as Yom Hashoah, the Town of Hempstead marked the significance of the day by unveiling its Antisemitism Task Force along with unveiling a plaque at Rock Hall Museum, in Lawrence that represents the town’s commitment to combating antisemitism and hatred.
Yom Hashoah commemorates the beginning of the Holocaust, when the Nazi regime murdered 13 million people, including 6 million Jews. This year the day was from sundown on April 23 to April 24.
The town is home to the second largest Jewish population in the nation, just behind New York City. The Antisemitism Task Force is a multi-faith effort that will introduce and implement strategies to battle hatred, according to Supervisor Don Clavin.
The task force includes — Rabbi Menachem Gurkov of Chabad of Oceanside; Rabbi Shimon Kremer of Chabad Center for Jewish Life in Merrick; Bali Learner, executive director of the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center in Glen Cove; and Rev. Eric Mallette of the Greater Second Baptist Church.
Rabbi Aaron Marsh of East Meadow Beth El Jewish Center; Mindy Perlmutter, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council; Avi Posnick, regional director at Stand With Us; Eric Post, Long Island regional director of the American Jewish Committee; Lucy Tully, a former town employee; Rabbi Art Vernon of Congregation Shaaray Shalom of West Hempstead and Rabbi Zalman Wolowik, Chabad of the Five Towns, are also part of the task force.
“Today’s of significance, we’re here at Rock Hall for an unveiling for the millions of lives that were stolen, murdered and taken during the darkest days of history in the world,” Clavin said. “With the sentiment that is taking place in the United States, this ties into the antisemitism task force we are initiating here in the Town of Hempstead with these men and women behind me.”
Rock Hall receives thousands of visitors every year along with its annual fall country fair. The plaque will serve as the starting point of the museum tour.
Councilwoman Missy Miller, who represents the Five Towns, spoke on the need of a local task force that will tackle antiemetic issues and hatred of all kinds on a deeper level.
“This rise in antisemitism that we’re seeing isn’t just disturbing, it’s deeply personal to so many families right here in our township,” Miller said. “When one community is impacted, we’re all targeted, antisemitism is not just a Jewish issue. Hate has no home here.”
Avi Posnick, regional director at Stand With Us expressed that Yom Hashoah is not just a day to remember.
“We dedicate ourselves to never again and learning the lessons of the Holocaust,” said Posnick, a graduate of Rambam Mesvita High School, which is now in Inwood after many years in Lawrence. “This township is putting words into action and we’re not just saying that antisemitism is bad but we’re looking for ways to prevent it.”
Posnick stressed that it all starts with the students and that they serve as leaders within the community and what they are taught matters.
“No one is born hating, no one is born an anti-Semite but it starts with education and it starts when you’re younger,” he said.
