JTA: The Global News Service of the Jewish People

• Tweet
• Share
• Email
• Print
• Google+
• Facebook

Rally urges joint terrorism fight

By Gary Rosenblatt · November 30, 1999

NEW YORK, Dec. 5 — Emphasizing parallels between the United States and Israel — from promoting democratic values to waging war against terrorism — rabbis from all denominations and other leaders spoke out at a rally in support of the Jewish state on Sunday in the shadow of the United Nations. Only hours after suicide bombers had killed at least 25 Israelis in Jerusalem and Haifa, a crowd of several thousand at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza cheered on speaker after speaker calling on the U.S. to end its distinction between its own war against terrorism and Israel´s. There was praise for President Bush´s aggressive efforts against Osama bin Laden, but there were also criticisms of the State Department´s equivalency of Israeli and Palestinian violence. Malcolm Hoenlein, executive director of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, criticized Secretary of State Colin Powell for "rewarding terrorism" in his recent policy speech in Louisville by envisioning a Palestinian state in the near future. Hoenlein also urged "no more aid to Palestinians in any form until the violence ends." The rally "for America and Israel against terrorism" was originally set for Nov. 11 but was postponed when federal authorities banned such events during the UN General Assembly. The sponsoring interdenominational group of about 75 rabbis held a rally in June in support of Israel that drew a far larger crowd. But Rabbi Harlan Wechsler, an organizer of both events, said he was pleased with the results of the Sunday program, which drew media coverage and "gave people the feeling that they are not alone in their need to express concern over important moral issues." At the rally, the Conservative rabbi of Or Zarua congregation in Manhattan told the crowd that while terrorists "try to make us afraid," America and Israel "will never be afraid." Terrorism is "bad for Israel and bad for America," said Rabbi Avi Weiss, a key organizer of the rally. The Orthodox rabbi of the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale compared terrorism to a cancer that, if not removed, spreads its murderous cells. Rabbi Weiss said Arab terrorism emanating from the Mideast has made its way to the U.S. One of the more memorable speakers was Elana Flatow, 19, sister of Alyssa Flatow, an American student in Israel killed by Arab terrorists in 1995. She spoke of her older sister, "who will always be 20." And she expressed concern that America is "developing a double standard in response to terror" and may not have the resolve to carry on the war against terror after defeating bin Laden. Holding signs that read "Allies in grief, allies in courage" and "We don´t need another terrorist state," many in the crowd sang along with Elli Kranzler, cantor of the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale, and recited Psalms led by various rabbis from the metropolitan area. Other speakers included John Ruskay, executive vice president and CEO of UJA-Federation of New York, Sister Rose Thering, vice president of the National Christian Leadership Conference for Israel; and Michael Miller, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York. Many in the crowd were Modern Orthodox Jews, including a number of high school and college students, who tend to be overrepresented at such events, observers noted. That segment of the community, said Rabbi Wechsler, identifies more strongly with Israel than the rest of the community, "and that tells us where we need to do more work." He said no future events are planned now by the rabbis, who will "de-brief" before deciding on their next project. "We are not in the rally business," he said, "we just want to do what has to be done. Some say rallies are out of fashion these days, but there is value in getting people out and stating the moral issues clearly." The primary message, Rabbi Wechsler said, is that "attacking innocent people is immoral. It´s something that must be repeated and driven home."

• Tweet
• Share
• Email
• Print
• Google+
• Facebook

Click to login and write a letter to the editor or sign up for the Daily Briefing.

This article was made possible by the support of readers like you. Donate to JTA now.

Featured Content