Supporters of Israel rallied by the tens of thousands on the National Mall under heavy security Tuesday, voicing solidarity in the fight against Hamas and crying “never again.”
The “March for Israel” offered a resounding and bipartisan endorsement of one of America’s closest allies as criticism has intensified over Israel’s offensive in Gaza, set off by the bloody Hamas incursion on Oct. 7.
Overlooking a sea of Israeli and U.S. flags, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Speaker Mike Johnson and the House Democratic leader, Hakeem Jefferies, came together on the stage and, with Republican Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa, joined hands. “We stand with Israel,” Schumer chanted.
A succession of speakers took the stage to denounce the Hamas attack and the virulent spread of antisemitism internationally, “an embarrassment to all civilized people and nations,” in the words of Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who addressed the crowd by video from the Western Wall in Jerusalem.
After “the largest massacre since the Holocaust,” he said, “let us call out together, never again.”
“No one will break us,” he vowed. “We will rise again. … There is no greater and just cause than this.”
Ernst said Hamas’ brutality cannot be overstated. “They murder babies,” she said. “They rape women. They abuse the elderly. How anyone in America could sympathize with these terrorists is unfathomable.”
Hamas militants stormed into Israel from Gaza in the surprise incursion Oct. 7, killing more than 1,200 people and taking more than 200 hostages. Israel has responded with weeks of attacks in Gaza, which have killed more than 11,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry.
Rachel Goldberg, mother of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was taken hostage while attending a music festival attacked by Hamas, said the days since the attack had been “slow motion torment.”
“The
se children of God range in age from 9 months to 87 years,” Goldberg said of the hostages taken to Gaza. “They are Christians, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists and Hindu. Why are they being left underground in the dirt?”
The Homeland Security Department designated the march a “level 1” security event, the highest classification in its system and one usually used for the Super Bowl and other major events, two law enforcement officials told The Associated Press. The designation means the event required substantial law enforcement assistance from federal agencies, the officials said.
The FBI and Homeland Security sent a joint bulletin to law enforcement officials in Washington warning about the potential for violence or an attack inspired by the Israel-Hamas war, the officials said. But the bulletin said clearly that federal officials haven’t identified any “specific, actionable threat” to the march, they said.
The officials were not authorized to discuss details of the law enforcement bulletin publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
Many of the demonstrators at the “March for Israel” wore Israeli flags wrapped around their shoulders, flowing behind them, or held small Israeli flags in their hands. Security was tight, with dump trucks blocking access to the mall and police dispersed throughout the area and on horseback.
“I hope that it shows solidarity” with Israel, said Jackie Seley of Rockville, Maryland, who came with friends from New York. “And I hope that it raises awareness for the hostages that are currently in danger.”
Melanie Lubin of Olney, Maryland, wore a flag half made up with the Stars and Stripes and half with Israel’s blue and white Star of David. Asked about the death toll in Gaza and criticism of the way Israel has conducted its military campaign, she said: “I think everyone is concerned about what is happening in Gaza and to civilians in Israel. Israel is doing its best. This is a war. Israel did not start this war.”
(AP)
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17 Responses
meaningless
It was a powerful and inspirational event. Too bad to all those who chose not to go.klal yisroel needs every Jew.
There were not only chants of “Never again” and “Bring them home.”. Hundreds of thousands of Jews from different backgrounds and different paths stood together and proclaimed in unison, “Shema Yisrael.”. The ground shook in DC today. This was a truly historic event.
20 million marched according Hamas Health Ministry
rightwinger – why meaningless? many jews arent as fortunate as you to have received a Torah education and they are doing their best. Try to dan lekaf zechus
@efshar first of all it could have been a bit more Jewish themed especially the music and speakers. Second of all most of the speakers are fake such as Schumer etc. we all know who these people are with their corrupt history.
That woman Messer or whatever talking about this we all care about a free Gaza and are hoping for that and are sad for the Palestinians. Seriously?
There was a march against anti semitism on the Brooklyn bridge a few years a go, what did that accomplish did it change anyone’s mind? I guess after all this is the least anyone can do so Im not putting anyone down but let’s be real, this doesn’t accomplish much. Especially the phony politicians speaking out of both sides of their mouth. Their words are meaningless. Even Biden and other world leaders calling from cease fire and protesting the Palestinians as victims here.
@efshar first of all it could have been a bit more Jewish themed especially the music and speakers. Second of all most of the speakers are fake such as Schumer etc. we all know who these people are with their corrupt history.
That woman Messer or whatever talking about this we all care about a free Gaza and are hoping for that and are sad for the Palestinians. Seriously?
There was a march against anti semitism on the Brooklyn bridge a few years a go, what did that accomplish did it change anyone’s mind? I guess after all this is the least anyone can do so Im not putting anyone down but let’s be real, this doesn’t accomplish much. Especially the phony politicians speaking out of both sides of their mouth. Their words are meaningless. Even Biden and other world leaders calling from cease fire and protesting the Palestinians as victims here
What a Kiddush Hashem! My heart melted to see Omer Adam put on a kipa when he sang V’he SheOmdah together with Yishai Ribo and they cried out Shma Yisroel together!
Watch https://youtu.be/d0Jd8XuIJOY?si=FDC4-LECNwal15pv
And they sang V’hi SheOmdah together with Chareidi rescuers from Zaka who were first responders on Shmini Atzeres who saved many Jews and witnessed some of the most gruesome atrocities while risking their lives!
I heard from an extremely reliable source that Rabbi Brudney from the Mir told a number of people that they should travel to Washington DC and join the pro Israel rally.
It looks like that there were several individuals that are real true Masmidim and they do not waste any time at all and they are completely immersed in the holy Torah, Rav Brudny advised them, “we need you in the Bais Medrash”.
efshar azoi:
It’s worse than meaningless; its very purpose and actual manifestation was infested with deios kozvos. For example, “Never again” is, itself, problematic because it implies that there was a political human cause for it the first time and denies the only possible way to prevent it from ever happening again.
Antisemitism is a reflection of assimilation. It’s that simple. The less assimilation, the less antisemitism. Zionism, of course, is a massive and multi-faceted assimilation in a manner never seen before. This rally, “Marching for Israel” was, of course, offensive to G-d despite the various nice things that might have happened there.
Interesting that only after that rally started, a politician put forth a bill to stop certain American weapons from going to the Zionists.
The only way to protect Jews is to do so G-d’s way, because He runs this world.
Sad that matisyahu was the first to say shema yisroel.
Sad that more pesukim were cited by goyim than Yiddin.
Sad that many “FRUM” ppl attended although the gedolim said not to attend.
Sad that many don’t understand what was wrong with it.
Sad that klal yisroel is in a matziv sakana.
הקול קול יעקב!!!
And in the end the Democrat Senate stopped an aid for Israel Bill. So much for the Federation.
IpchahMistavra:
“Sad that many don’t understand what was wrong with it.”
This is the saddest of all.
Didnt look like a Jewish event. No wonder the erlich leaders banned it fir all the many right reasons.
Thw crowd wasnt even 1/4 ow what they “estimated.” No Jewish values. A real Israeli march w no relation to Judaism.
Sad that a certain segment of Jews who should know better were הוציא את עצמם מן הכלל.
V’hamevin, yavin.
an Israeli Yid
some context & thoughts regarding the rally
the rally had 3 important goals which we all agree are vital
1. money from the white house- (14 bill with a beis) for a yid money means survival someone has to pay for this war Israel cant do it alone = ruchnius
2- the hostages – a hishtadlus at pidyon shevuin of the highest levels- “40 days is an eternity “=ruchnius
3- jewish pride- kiruv, the facts are that for millions of yidden being proud to be jewish, connecting with e”y has a huge impact on teens doing a year in e”y after HS which translates to a higher level of yidddishkeit for life on various levels ( it is without question that there has been an a awakening by many to take on specific mitzvos…
for these reasons alone DAYEINU!!!
a bit of context about pro or against..
the program couldve & shouldve been more ruchnius dik ( the never again was minor) however you understand that aguda could not make a tefila rally in manhatten because its not easy to get all the groups on the same page, u remember citifield was hanging by a thread until erev citifield…the modern too cant get together you have right , left , & center.. Christians, Russians.. Israelis so they too walking on egg shells – chabad used it to do mitzvos with yidden one at a time
all in all if you feel you belong there than you probably do & if you feel u don’t you probably don’t
( i did not go but my wife did, with mesirus nefesh, day of work w/o pay 16 hrs from when she left bp till got home – her level of ahavas yisroel & nesias ol is simply way higher than mine)