About 300 students from Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy and six busloads of student and faculty members from Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School joined tens of thousands of people from around the nation to show their support for Israel on the National Mall Tuesday.
Many more Montgomery County residents came with the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, their own synagogue or with family and friends.
“We’re here to show support for Israel, and I’m just worried about the antisemitism, and I am worried about the hostages,” said Jordyn White, a senior at Charles E. Smith in Rockville. Her classmates wore blue “CESJDS Stands With Israel” shirts as they listened to speeches and songs on the National Mall.
About 50 people from Kol Shalom Synagogue in Rockville were also in attendance. Rabbi Fabian Werbin told MCM, “We stand with Israel unequivocally. We came to support Israel and ask for the release of the hostages and to stand up against antisemitism.”
The rally came in response to the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas on Israel the war that ensued. More than 1,200 Israelis died and about 240 were taken as hostages. More than 11,200 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza since Oct. 7.
Throughout the day, the crowd chanted “Bring Them Home” whenever a speaker mentioned the hostages.
Potomac resident Marilyn Bier’s son, Adam, currently is a reserve with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), and she wanted to show her support and solidarity with her son and the people of Israel.
Her son graduated from Walter Johnson High School and soon moved to Israel where he served in the IDF. He currently lives in New York but returns yearly to serve with his unit. He’s serving now, but his mother is not sure in what capacity although she assumes he is involved in the medical end as he is an orthopedic surgeon.
“I am so filled with love for him and Israel,” Bier said.
The Washington Post reported that D.C. police used tape to separate demonstrators from rally participants, adding “But confrontations were few, and feared showdowns between pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian supporters never materialized.”
6 buses filled with Charles E Smith Jewish Day School students came to D.C. to support Israel and call for the return of the hostages @mymcmedia pic.twitter.com/OzICkHFYds
— suzanne pollak (@SuzannePollak) November 14, 2023
Amidst the sea of tens of thousands who #StandWithIsrael, I found my beloved Rabbi, Har Shalom's Adam Raskin! #MarchForIsrael pic.twitter.com/HTzGcVRAuR
— Cheryl C. Kagan (@CherylKagan) November 14, 2023
Thank you to all the Marylanders who showed up today to support Israel and give a voice to the hostages taken by Hamas. #BringThemHome pic.twitter.com/fumSQTVXnZ
— Senator Ben Cardin (@SenatorCardin) November 14, 2023
Over a quarter of a million people are gathered right now to…
March for Israel
March to Free Hostages
March Against AntisemtismPhoto Credit: Ralph Alswang for @jfederations #MarchForIsrael pic.twitter.com/dVlmMIKVtq
— The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington (@JFGW) November 14, 2023
Watch the #MarchforIsrael live stream here: https://t.co/GCeML2uACw https://t.co/TGEM6AEv7Z
— The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington (@JFGW) November 14, 2023
Today, I attended the #MarchForIsrael in D.C. to stand with the American Jewish community during such trying times. We must come together as a nation to support Israel's right to exist, help bring the Israeli hostages home, combat antisemitism, and promote a peaceful future. pic.twitter.com/W33YfQsjFe
— Rep. David Trone (@RepDavidTrone) November 14, 2023
