Main Street came alive with music and dancing during Chol HaMoed Sukkos, as thousands gathered near Haym Salomon Square for the Fifth Annual Queens Unity Sukkos Concert and Simchas Beis HaShoeva.
Held Tuesday evening, September 29, at Main Street and 72nd Drive, the annual celebration featured Aryeh Kunstler and Shimon Deri, two performers who brought distinct musical followings to the same stage. Kunstler has long been a familiar name to Ashkenazic audiences, while Deri is a well-known musician in the Sephardic community. Remarkably, the two had only met that evening, yet onstage they performed with the chemistry and energy of a seasoned duo.
Adding to the atmosphere for another year was DJ Ezra Eliyahu, now of Lakewood, who once again helped keep the energy moving throughout the evening. Together, the musical lineup reflected the range of the crowd itself, blending different styles and backgrounds into one celebration.
The musical combination gave added meaning to the “unity” in the concert’s name. Different segments of the Queens Jewish community came together for one celebration, and the enthusiasm onstage was quickly matched in the street below.
Children lined the barricades closest to the stage as families stretched well beyond them along the Main Street corridor. Youngsters watched from their parents’ shoulders, joined the dancing below, and even took turns at the microphone onstage. As the evening progressed, circles of dancing spread through the street, drawing children and adults into the celebration while the music continued from the stage.
Perhaps most striking was how that energy held through the night. At previous concerts, attendance had begun to thin as the evening grew later. This year, the crowd remained in force through the final moments, with an enthusiasm that matched the dynamic performances onstage. Rather than simply watching a concert, those gathered became part of it, turning the street into a communal Simchas Beis HaShoeva that remained vibrant until the music came to an end.
The evening also highlighted the longstanding relationship between the community and local law enforcement. During the program, New York State Assembly Member Sam Berger presented Police Officer Kevin McCarthy of the NYPD Community Affairs Bureau with a special award from the Jewish community recognizing his years of service, steadfast dedication, and friendship. The tribute particularly acknowledged Officer McCarthy’s commitment to protecting the community and his efforts to help bring community events together, even when arrangements must be made at the last minute.
Officer McCarthy was joined for the presentation by fellow Community Affairs Officer Tim Gorman, event organizer Rabbi Yaakov Horvitz, and representatives of Margaret Tietz Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and Queens Shmira. NYPD personnel and Queens Shmira maintained a visible public-safety presence as the celebration continued around them.
The Fifth Annual Queens Unity Sukkos Concert was presented with support from community organizations and corporate sponsors including Boulevard ALP Assisted Living, EMU Health, Chabad Youth Queens, Chabad of Flushing, Ohr Avner, the Queens Jewish Community Council, Margaret Tietz Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, and Kand Law. The program was supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.
By Shabsie Saphirstein
