STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Tens of thousands of people gathered in the Graniteville area this week for a massive annual pilgrimage and volunteer‑run food distribution tied to the Kerestir rabbinical tradition, transforming a historic cemetery and nearby streets into a peaceful, prayer‑filled community hub.
The gathering, centered at Baron Hirsch Cemetery, drew an estimated 10,000 attendees, many traveling from across New York and neighboring states.
The event coincides with the yahrzeit period associated with the Kerestir rabbinic family, whose legacy is rooted in charity, hospitality and caring for the needy…