Our Israel Real Estate Expo Sparked Boro Park Protests

This Monday, February 17, we woke up to some unexpected and deeply concerning messages from acquaintances, security officials and local authorities in Brooklyn’s heavily Jewish Boro Park neighborhood. Pro-Palestinian groups found out about our event and obtained the exact location details and planned to “flood” our February 18 Boro Park event with protestors. 

Use of the term “flood,” as they did on Instagram and other social accounts, was provocative and disturbing, not just to us as the hosts of this event, but to local officials, government representatives, security groups like Chaverim and Shomrim, and the NYPD. “Flood,” as pointed out in a post on X by Congressman Ritchie Torres, “contains an implicit threat of violence,” as Hamas uses the term “Al-Aqsa flood” to refer to October 7. We immediately began working with the local authorities to ensure that our participating partners and all attendees would be safe.

Deciding to Move

The owner of the original venue hosting the event began getting many calls from Boro Park community leaders, school principals, and concerned residents, who worried that the protest would antagonize and terrify the neighborhood’s children, especially as there are many schools in the area. When we learned that 17 schools are within minutes of that location–and that many of them would be letting out just as the protest was called–we decided to move the event, even though it was to be held the next day.

While we were not intimidated or cowed by the protestors and their threats of “flooding” the heart of the local Jewish community, we certainly did not wish to expose any school children to the disturbing chants and rallying cries of the pro-Palestinian groups out there. Organized by PAL-Awda, a 10/7 apologist group, the protests were sure to contain not just calls and drum beats to “Free free Palestine” but to incite violence against the Jewish people.

Gathering Support
US Congressman Dan Goldman noted on X, :”This ‘protest’ is in fact targeted harassment aimed at a neighborhood with one of the highest populations of Orthodox Jews in the US. To harass and intimidate Jews because of the actions of Israel is textbook antisemitism. True progressives must speak out against this hate.”

As the calls to protest gained traction, we began the intense work of contacting all the registered participants and informing them of the address change, the possibility of a massive protest, and the large security and NYPD presence that would be on site. We received calls–and were featured in posts online and in the Jewish media–offering encouragement and support. 

In an Instagram post, New York Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein called for the NYPD and New York City mayor’s office to take immediate action, expressing his outrage that the protestors would dare to breach the Jewish stronghold of Boro Park with their antisemitic slogans. Former NY Assemblyman Dov Hikind called me personally to express his support and assured me that he would be there, standing front and center with his wife, in support of our event and in support of Israel.

As we threw ourselves into our Monday event in Boca Raton, inspired by the numbers of Jews there expressing interest in securing a place for themselves in Israel, our team back home in Jerusalem worked furiously to make all the arrangements. Thank God, we had a beautiful event yesterday in Boro Park, where we experienced not only an outpouring of warmth, encouragement, and support, but also a “flood” of interest in Israeli real estate. Though many participants seemed almost loath to admit it, they repeatedly cited growing antisemitisim as the reason for their interest in buying property in Israel.

Growing Interest

Even as the protestors screamed outside, calling for violence and accusing us of selling “stolen Palestinian land,” they were unknowingly driving more and more people to try to buy here, even if they feel they can’t or aren’t ready to move here yet. Participants specifically cited the demonstrations, saying that because of them they feel more than ever that they need a place in Israel to feel safe. They expressed their desire to at least own something here that they can fall back on should they need to leave or should they begin to feel truly threatened and unsafe. Others said they came just to show support.

While we were on the inside, where it was peaceful and calm, sharing information and enjoying the delicious catering, mobs outside screamed hateful, xenophobic messages–including at passing school kids–and even tried to attack the pro-Israel counterprotestors.

The Getter Group’s intention in initiating these events was to give Jews an entrypoint into the Israel real estate market, to show them that it’s possible to buy here and that there’s a place to begin. We view our work not just as a livelihood but as a personal mission, to help Jews establish themselves in their homeland. I never dreamed we would end up as part of a story as old as time, a story of those seeking scapegoats and excuses for antisemitism.

Israel and Israeli real estate are always going to be here, no matter what protestors say. And now, more than ever, Jews around the world are paying heed to that.