Memorial Marks 25 Since Murder of Yeshiva Student

A somber memorial service was held today to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the murder of Yankel Rosenbaum, HYD, who was stabbed to death shortly after the Crown Heights Riots broke out in the summer of 1991.

A Crowd of around 100 people, along with several media outlets, gathered for the brief memorial service, which began at around 10:00am Friday morning, on the corner of President Street and Brooklyn Avenue, the spot where the murder took place.

Community activist Yaacov Behrman introduced Norman Rosenbaum, brother of Yankel, and thanked all those present for coming.

Renowned educator Rabbi Shea Hecht began the service by reciting Psalms, followed by Chazzan Rabin who sang Keil Malei Rachamim.

Norman Rosenbaum recited Kadish for his brother, after which he addressed the media. He noted that this day in 1991 marked the start of three and a half days of rioting against the Jews, during which not only was his brother killed, but 176 people were injured.

Mr. Rosenbaum slammed those “intellectually dishonest” reporters who gave a false narrative of the riots, portraying the conflict as two-sided. “My brother Yankel was brutally murdered only because he was a Jew,” he said.

He also pointed out that most of the rioters were outsiders who came to this community and took advantage of a tragedy – the accidental death of 7-year-old Gavin Cato by a Hasidic motorist – to incite hatred and violence.

“It has been 25 years and [Yankel Rosenbaum] has yet to be recognized that he lived and died because he was a Jew” said attendee Aron Hershkop following the memorial service. “The whole community should have been out there today, to identify with the way he died, for what he died, for whom he died. He died for us. He was part of our union. He wore our uniform.”

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13 Comments

  • Big Z Schapiro

    question number one I thought question number 1 Yankie Rosenbaum blessed memory I thought he was stabbed by Union Street between Schenectady and Utica or Troy and Schenectady question 2 Yankel Rosenbaum was stabbed on President Street in corner Brooklyn Av? please can someone explain thanks

  • Neighbor

    May Yankels neshama have an Aliya,
    Please post a picture if him
    Ty
    Gshabbos!

  • to BZ Schapiro

    I guess it takes 25 years to know it was at Brooklyn & President corner

  • From Israel

    Where were your so-called Community Leaders who are pressing for a festival of fun & frivolity to “mark” the riots?
    Where was Richard Green & other members of the Black community – hiding in plain site, I expect. They prefer parties and barbecues in the park.

    I strongly urge a boycott of tomorrow’s fiasco, because it is completely inappropriate. We Jews do not remember pogroms and their victims with bouncy castles, face painting & free food. Aaron Hershkop said it very well – Yankel HY”D was one of us, and shame on the “community” for not turning out in droves..

    PS We lived in Crown Heights through the riots and for many years after, seeing more and more violence against Jews. Don’t fool yourselves, Black-Jewish relations will never be good.

  • Shvartze mit Veissa

    A festival couldn’t be a better idea! The oh-so-harmonious living amongst the simian-shvartzes most definitely should be put on display for the whole world to see! To illustrate this & perpetuate this fantasy of tolerance, chasids should don blackface & the shvartzer whiteface. A full reenactment of the infamous incident should be scheduled for hourly performances. A stunt driver should be utilized as a precaution, of course. The harmonious diversity should be reflected in the food as well – i.e., chocolate matzoh (a/k/a “Shvartze Matzoh”), pickled sharpton lips, stuffed shvartze nostrils etc. In the effort to be fair & balanced, kiddie rides & games should be included as well, i.e., The Challahcoaster, Pin the Payos on the Rebbi, The Yartzheit Express, Shiva Box Hide & Seek etc. Don’t forget the piece de resistance now: The Knockout Game! AACCH! Should be a voild of fun. OY!!!

  • Fed Up

    At least there was a memorial service for the most major victim of the Crown Heights riot, Yankel Rosenbaum. His death should have not happened, but it did! Was David Dinkins at the memorial? While he did not start or approve of the rioting, he probably could have ended it sooner instead of allowing “the youths” to vent for three(3) days! His appearance would have been appreciated, since this riot was during his term as New York City’s mayor.