It is frustrating seeing people who have no connection to our community driving around, blasting music, waving flags and honking their horns. Usually, however, there are not many and they are here for a brief period of time. Please allow the visitors their parade and please do not go anywhere near their route.
Kindly defer to the organized Jewish community (shuls, Federation, BCJAC and RCBC) to make thoughtful strategic decisions about where and when it will be most useful for us to physically show up to demonstrate our solidarity with the people of Israel and our opposition to the terrorism they are fighting. Please do not show up with friends to heckle the pro-Hamas gang. Worse than not useful, it actually hurts us. Showing protestors a middle finger or yelling or engaging in any way is not helpful. Neither is blocking their path.
If you have any doubt, take a look at the Instagram and Facebook accounts after a drive by. The enemies of the Jewish people are hoping we will express our anger because it helps them make us look bad for the whole world.
The protesters are coming here with high-end video gear, looking for us. They want to see our grimace, or gesture or nasty sound bite. It helps them delegitimize Israel’s supporters and helps them propel their narrative about what awful people Jews are.
Stay away. Do not engage. Show up and vote. Show up for the marches and rallies that are being organized by the community. We must not fall into the trap of letting our legitimate anger become fuel for their propaganda.
