Sunday’s pro-Israel rally in Washington, D.C., featured Black, white, Israeli, American, Indigenous, Latino, Jewish, and non-Jewish guest speakers, all with the same message: the Jewish community must stand together in unity.
An estimated 2,000 supporters of Israel gathered at Nationals Park, a starkly smaller turnout than last November’s March for Israel, which drew hundreds of thousands to the nation’s capital shortly after Oct. 7. Indoor Planters
The event titled “Stand Together,” organized by the Jewish Federations of North America and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, featured speeches by Ambassadors Michael Herzog and Dan Shapiro, Congress members, United States Olympic gold medalist Amit Elor, soldiers in the Israel Defense Forces, relatives of three of the hostages, and college students.
Actress and comedian Tiffany Haddish, who emceed the event, addressed the 101 hostages still held in Gaza, rising antisemitism and Jewish college students “facing hatred on campuses”: “Right now, we’re living through one of the hardest chapters of our story.”
Togetherness can help through difficult times, Haddish said, reflecting on her personal life.
“Like many of you, I learned that life’s hardest moments can lead to our greatest grace, from foster care to homelessness to finding my truth, both as an artist and as a Jew,” she said to cheers from the crowd. “That’s why what we’re doing here matters. 150 organizations spanning every branch of Jewish life coming together.”
Haddish went on to say that unity doesn’t equate to agreeing on everything. Instead, “it’s about standing together when it matters most. Right now, it matters more than ever.”
The speeches, condemning antisemitism and calling for the release of the hostages, were interspersed with musical performances by Israeli singer-songwriter Idan Raichel and John Ondrasik.
Known by his stage name Five for Fighting, Ondrasik announced that it doesn’t take a Jewish identity to support Israel. The singer-songwriter, who said he isn’t Jewish, wrote his original song “OK” about Oct. 7 in protest of Hamas, which he performed at the Nov. 10 event.
“I’ve seen how music can make a powerful difference in times like this,” Ondrasik told JTA. He expressed disappointment that he hasn’t seen other artists “pushing back” against the threats and hatred he said people receive for supporting Israel, adding that some of his fellow musicians fear losing ticket sales by speaking out: “That’s the same argument they used in 1938,” Ondrasik told JTA.
Rep. Ritchie Torres also spoke about the importance of standing in solidarity with the Jewish community.
“People often ask me, ‘Ritchie, you’re not Jewish; you’re Black, you’re a Latino. Why do you speak out so forcefully and frequently against antisemitism?’” Torres said at the event.
“And I simply reply, ‘The question is not, why have I chosen to speak out? The question is, why have others chosen to be silent amid the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust?”
Lani Anpo, who is a multitribal Native American and Diaspora Jew, works as an advocate for global Indigenous and Jewish communities. She said world leaders’ and organizations’ failure to condemn the Oct. 7 attack has resulted in a sharp rise in antisemitism internationally, which Anpo said is reminiscent of the “early stages of the Holocaust.”
Anpo added that this failure also negatively affects Indigenous rights worldwide, as she said she views Israel as the Jewish homeland.
“Solidarity to protect our Jewish and Israeli relatives, Indigenous rights and humanity is more critical now than ever,” Anpo said to the crowd. “We should be able to recognize the war on Palestinian children and citizens without distorting reality or scapegoating Jews for the actions and consequences of Palestinian militants. Beneath the trauma and radical ideologies creating division, we are relatives. Our roots are as deeply intertwined as olive trees.”
Eric Fingerhut, the CEO of JFNA, echoed this sentiment of unity in a Nov. 10 press release. “Today reminded us that even in these difficult times there is so much more that binds us together than divides us,” Fingerhut said in the statement. “Time and time again, our history has taught us that only when we are united are we strong enough to survive, grow and flourish, and today has given me incredible hope for the future.”
As the event was held the day before Veterans Day, speakers including Haddish thanked the troops for their courage and sacrifice. Israeli Maj. Gen. Dan Goldfus, who spoke at the event, described the horrors he experienced on Oct. 7.
“The past 401 days have served as a stark reminder of why we fight,” Goldfus said. “We fight for freedom, for security and for the future of our children. And when I see you all today, supporting us, I know we will succeed.”
Jacques Lurie, the executive director of Shaare Shamayim in Elkins Park, organized buses to transport 40 community members from just outside Philadelphia to D.C. Lurie said he attended the event to counteract the frequent pro-Palestinian demonstrations he sees and to strengthen the Jewish community.
“We have to be speaking loudly. The world works on people having knowledge; politicians being pressured to know that our community cares and the world community cares,” Lurie told the Jewish Exponent. “It’s been way too long with these hostages.”
Michael Goldinger, a congregant of Shaare Shamayim, traveled to the rally with other members of the synagogue. He wore a dog tag that read “Bring them home” and a black sticker with the number “401,” to represent the number of days the hostages have been held captive.
“I’m here to support [my family living in Israel] and basically show unity within the community that we need to stand against what’s going on,” Goldinger told the Jewish Exponent. “A lot of people don’t understand the fighting and why we’re fighting in Israel … because of what went on over there.”
Rachel Waldman, the executive director of the Jewish Federation of Atlantic & Cape May Counties who helped organize a caravan of 11 community members, said she believes in the healing power of unity.
“Every opportunity that we have had since Oct. 7 that we bring people together, people walk away feeling so much better,” Waldman told the Jewish Exponent. “We’re always making movements to bring people together and to feel like they’re a part of something big; to be with people that are similar to you and in support of you, it just … makes you feel more energized to move forward.”
She attended from New Jersey alongside her sister, aunt and cousin.
“It’s just such a great melting pot to bring everybody together to support Jews in America and around the world,” Waldman said.
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