Bay Area Jewish organizations are urging local Jews to visit New York next month and participate in a national solidarity rally for Israel.
The mass rally is being organized by the United Jewish Communities in order to display American Jewry’s unified support for Israel during the current uprising. It will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. EDT on Sunday, Sept. 23 on 47th Street near the United Nations.
For those who cannot make it to New York, a student-led march will probably be held in San Francisco on the same day. The march is currently in the initial planning stage. Federation Web sites — www.sfjcf.org and www.jfed.org — will contain updates next week.
Local sponsorship for the New York rally comes from the S.F.-based Jewish Community Federation, the Jewish Federation of the Greater East Bay, and the Jewish Federation of Greater San Jose as well as the S.F.-based Jewish Community Relations Council. The American Jewish Congress, Northern California Board of Rabbis, Anti-Defamation League and AIPAC, the pro-Israel lobby, are also endorsing the effort.
“In this time of crisis, Israel needs and deserves our support, and this is one way to evoke it,” said John Goldman, president of the JCF. “Visibly making a statement of support for Israel and its right to exist is the key.”
David Steirman, JCRC chair, agreed with Goldman. “We need to show the Israelis that we stand in solidarity with them,” he said.
During a recent visit to Israel, Steirman said he experienced some of the consequences of the past 11 months of violence as well as a terrorist attack almost first hand. Aside from “an obvious lack of tourists,” he was only a couple miles away from Sbarro pizzeria in Jerusalem when a Palestinian suicide bomber killed at least 15 people in late July.
“Though I didn’t see it happen directly, it certainly resonated with me,” he said. “You can feel it in the air. Even my cousin, who was born in Israel, said this is the worst its been since the War of Independence.”
Steirman urged American Jews to visit Israel so they can see the situation themselves. He also urged them to come to the rally in New York.
“Every community in the United States should participate,” he said, adding that he is “absolutely” going.
Airline tickets and accommodations are up to those individuals interested in attending. A group breakfast and briefing will be held the morning of the rally.