“How lightly antisemitism sleeps,” lamented Rabbi David Seth Kirshner, of Temple Emanu-El of Closter, in his opening remarks to a standing-room-only assembly gathered in Roosevelt Commons of Tenafly. He described the terrorist “keyboard commandos” who employ social media to spread their lies and hate, and incite people to be “keyboard cowards.” He implored everyone to use their keyboards to fight back with facts.
Attendance at the rally, held on Sunday, May 23, was estimated at 2,000, according to Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey President Lee Lasher, as well as Tenafly police, who had a sizable presence at the event. Tenafly Mayor Mark Zinna was also in attendance.
Lasher stated, “It was great to see the very large, broad community turnout and support tonight. Close to 2,000 people supporting Israel and standing up for the safety and security of our Jewish community in Bergen County and beyond. There is no moral equivalency between the terrorist regime of Hamas and the state of Israel. Hamas shoots thousands of missiles at Israeli citizens (Jews, Muslims and Christians) and Israel not only has a right but an obligation to defend herself and her citizens. We would not tolerate one missile being shot at us in Bergen County, and over 4,000 were fired at Israel in less than two weeks. We long for the day when there will be peace, but until such time, Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey and all of us will courageously and vociferously defend our Israel, our Jewish community and Jews around the world.”
Jason Shames, CEO and executive vice president, Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey, described the war as being on two fronts: the front in Israel and the social media front. He implored everyone to take on the role of being a soldier on social media, by putting the truth out there.
Rabbi Jordan Millstein, of Temple Sinai of Bergen County in Tenafly, emphatically stated that whether against missiles or keyboards, “the Reform movement stands with Israel.”
Rabbi Akiva Block of Kehillat Kesher Community Synagogue of Tenafly and Englewood, spoke of how “Hashem placed peace [upon] Israel, and it is up to us to make [that peace].”
Roman Shmulenson, CEO of the Council of Jewish Emigre Community Organizations, shared how his young daughter asked him why it was taking so long to win the war in Israel. He told her that “it’s taking so long because Israel has the strongest and most humane armed forces in the world.”
Orly Chen, an American Israeli and a member of the board of directors of the Kaplen JCC, summed up the feeling of the crowd when she exclaimed, “I’m not afraid to be Jewish!”
By Ellie Wolf
