Blindfolded Jewish Man Offers Free Hugs on Streets of New York to Fight Antisemitism

With antisemitism surging across the globe in recent weeks, a Jewish man in New York City engaged in a unique social initiative to push back against hate and promote interfaith harmony.

In a gesture of reconciliation, Meir Kay stood blindfolded on the streets of the city with a sign reading, “My name is Meir. I am a Jew. I stand for peace, how about you? Let’s share a hug between us two. And show the world what love can do.”

Multiple people approached Kay and warmly embraced him.

One said, “I am a Palestinian Muslim that stands against antisemitism. I’m educating my people every day and I’m doing the best I can.”

Antisemitic acts in the US jumped 80 percent in the past month as Israel-Gaza violence flared.

Watch Meir’s blindfold hug experiment below: