One of Israel's most popular singers, Omer Adam, performed on Sunday night for 20,000 fans at a sold-out Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Adam, 32, opened the show by leading the crowd in singing a traditional Jewish melody, “Vehi She’amda,” or “And it is this that has sustained us.”
This piyyut (a sung poem) is taken from the Passover Haggadah and speaks of God's promise to the Jewish people. Its lyrics emphasize that not one enemy has ever stood alone against them.
The passage continues, "for not only one has risen up against us to destroy us, but in every generation they rise up to destroy us. But the Holy One, Blessed be He, delivers us from their hands."
The song was accompanied by a tribute video dedicated to IDF soldiers, hostage survivors, and US President Donald Trump. The video featured footage of soldiers from the past two years, emotional moments of released hostages reuniting with their families, and excerpts from Trump’s historic speech at the Knesset last week.
In a post on Instagram ahead of the concert, Adam wrote, “Madison Square Garden – we’re on our way; please fasten your seatbelts. I hope you’re ready. At last, we can celebrate — our brothers and sisters are home. Am Yisrael Chai.”
According to Ynet, actress Sofia Vergara, best known for her role in the hit series *Modern Family*, was spotted among the concertgoers and later made her way backstage. There, she met Israeli supermodel Bar Refaeli, as well as Adam himself, just moments before he took the stage.
New York's growing atmosphere of antisemitism
The Omer Adam concert took place against the backdrop of a rising atmosphere of antisemitism in New York City.
The Jewish community has faced a growing number of attacks and antisemitic propaganda on campuses, synagogues, museums, memorials, and other public spaces since the October 7 attack on Israel.
This past week, tensions escalated when a vigil for the killed Hamas leader, Yahya Sinwar, was held in the Bronx borough, where the terror leader was praised as a people's resistance fighter.
Additionally, the Jewish community in New York has been left in a state of uncertainty as mayoral candidate Zoran Mandani rises in the polls ahead of the city elections scheduled for November.
Mandani has repeatedly criticized Israel and echoed what has been criticized as antisemitic rhetoric and views.