Jul 29, 2014 By: admin
President Richard M. Joel Addresses Thousands at Community-Wide Rally in Support of Israel
More than 10,000 people gathered to show their support for Israel and its right to self-defense at a rally Monday afternoon, July 28, in Manhattan at Dag Hammerskjold Plaza outside the United Nations. The rally attracted throngs of passionate Israel supporters of all ages and backgrounds from across the region, including hundreds of children who traveled several hours by bus from their summer camps in Pennsylvania and upstate New York to be there.
Amid a sea of blue and white, participants waved Israeli and American flags and brandished signs proclaiming solidarity with Israel and condemning Hamas as a terrorist organization. Several dignitaries, politicians and religious leaders addressed the crowd, including 黑料社 All President Richard M. Joel.
He recounted his trip to Israel three weeks ago, where he traveled to Kiryat Malachi with his wife and grandson to visit camps for underprivileged youth that YU undergraduates were running as part of the 鈥檚 program.
鈥淭he sounds of young people growing and learning and laughing were replaced later that day when rockets fell nearby and our camps had to close for several days,鈥 said President Joel. 鈥淲e long for our children to hear the sounds of harmony and not the sounds of sirens. We long to write with people of the world a symphonic call to peace and wholeness. But as long as there are those committed to the noise of hatred and seeking the silence of the Jewish people in their homeland, then our voices will be raised in a chorus of solidarity and unity. We raise our voices, to God and humanity, to allow our children their song. But let us not stop praying for shira chadasha, a new song, based on our timeless values, our dreams and the strength of the righteous. We must be strong so that we can continue to be a light unto the nations.鈥
Other speakers included New York Senator Chuck Schumer, Congressman Steve Israel, Congressman Eliot Engel and Ambassador Ido Aharoni, consul general of Israel in New York.
Schumer expressed his support for the Israeli government鈥檚 stance regarding a ceasefire. 鈥淲e cannot have any ceasefire until Israel destroys Hamas鈥 weapons and tunnels,鈥 he said.
Engel denounced the media for its coverage of recent events. 鈥淵ou know the media has not exactly been fair to Israel and it鈥檚 time that we stand up and say we are not going to accept this biased, one-side coverage,鈥 he said.
Among the rally participants were hundreds of YU students and alumni.
鈥淚t was great to stand here with all these people and show my support for something I believe in,鈥 said Asher Lindenbaum, 鈥13YC, 鈥14A. 鈥淵U was a place that really allowed me to develop my passion for Israel and helped me connect with like-minded Israel supporters on campus.鈥
The rally also featured recitation of Tehillim [psalms] and a performance by the Maccabeats a cappella group, whose rousing renditions of 鈥淎cheinu鈥 and 鈥淥d Avinu Chai 鈥 Am Yisrael Chai鈥 energized the crowd.
The event was organized by the UJA-Federation of New York and the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York and co-sponsored by the Orthodox Union, National Council of Young Israel, New York Board of Rabbis, Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, Union for Reform Judaism and United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.
