In a fiery speech at Rutgers Chabad, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations commemorated the October 7 attack on Israel by declaring, “The days when the Jewish people are at the mercy of tyrants are over.”
Danny Danon spoke before a packed room on the solemn occasion that included dignitaries, students and community members.
“The days when we had to rely on foreign powers are over,” he said. “Today we are not defenseless. Today the Jewish people are strong … We will defend ourselves with the might of Judah.”
The program began under tight security as state police stood guard and blocked off streets. Before Danon spoke, a chilling video taken during the attack was shown, of a group of young people desperately hiding as they are shot at and grenades are thrown. Some did not survive.
However, Chabad Executive Director Yosef Carlebach noted that even in the current dark year of antisemitism and attacks on Israel, there is hope.
“Those of us who witnessed the Holocaust believed we would never again see it happening to the Jewish people,” he said, but that spike in antisemitism and anti-Zionism has spurred unprecedented numbers of students coming to Shabbat dinners and other events at Chabad.
Rabbi Carlebach presented Danon with a book of psalms and a tzedakah box to take back to the U.N. to “bring holiness into one of the most unholiest places.”
Danon recalled the horror of October 7, 2023, when Hamas terrorists butchered men, women and children and tore apart families.
“It was the worst nightmare of our lives,” he said. “It is a day seared into our collective souls.”
Never far from the minds of Israelis and others are the more than 100 Israelis still held as hostages by “one of the evilest terrorist groups on earth.”
Danon said he prayed for the parents, children and families personally affected by the captivity and vowed that “no matter how long, no matter how difficult, we will get them back.”
He declared that “on that day we will rise from the ashes, we will rise from our own grief” to gather strength “in the face of whatever kinds of evil we find.”
Danon urged the large group of students in attendance who face antisemitism on college campuses to stand strong. “We have faced this kind of hatred before,” he said, and exhorted the students to not back down “but to stand tall.”
“You will also be the defenders of Israel,” said Danon. “Our enemies think by inflicting pain they can break us.”
Declaring that Israel won’t crumble under the weight of grief because “we have no other choice” in what that has now expanded to seven fronts including, Iran, Yemen and Iraq, countries with which Israel has no border and no issue with natural resources, prompting Danon to ask and answer his own question: “Why? Pure hate.”
He sharply criticized the U.N. for its failure to find “the basic morality to condemn the massacre of innocent civilians,” yet always seems to find its voice when it comes to condemning Israelis.
“Despite that we will bring our own hostages back home,” said Danon. “We will defeat those that seek our destruction. We stand as one people united in purpose and strength. We will protect our people. We will never let anyone threaten our survival.”
As Danon finished, Rabbi Carlebach urged the crowd to chant “Am Yisroel Chai” before telling him, “We are with you 100 %.”
Debra Rubin has had a long career in journalism writing for secular weekly and daily newspapers and Jewish publications. She most recently served as Middlesex/Monmouth bureau chief for the New Jersey Jewish News. She also worked with the media at several nonprofits, including serving as assistant public relations director of HIAS and assistant director of media relations at Yeshiva University.
