Huge Pro-Israel Rally Gathers on the National Mall
A report by Russ Resnik, UMJC Rabbinic Counsel
Jews and their allies from across America converged at the National Mall in Washington, DC, on Tuesday, November 14, to make a three-fold statement: support for Israel in its war against Hamas, demand for immediate release of all hostages, and opposition to the dramatic rise in antisemitism.
Regarding this last point, harassment, vandalism and assaults against Jews soared by nearly 400 percent during the weeks after the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel (ADL Center on Extremism). In some cities and institutions, it is considered dangerous to wear a kippa or a star of David or any other mark of Jewish identity, but the DC Metro system as well as streets all around the Mall were filled with highly visible Jews flowing in a steady stream to the event at the Capitol. As demonstrators gathered, they carried flags of Israel and banners saying, “Am Yisrael Chai,” “Release the hostages,” and even, “We are loudly, proudly, joyfully Jewish.”
Speakers at the event included Natan Sharansky, Israeli President Isaac Herzog on live video from Jerusalem, and Senator Chuck Schumer, joined by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa). Schumer said, “We are here, united, Democrat and Republican, House and Senate, to say we stand with Israel. We are here today to show we will not hide in the face of adversity, in America and in Israel.” He led the crowd in a call and response, calling out “We stand,” with the crowd responding “With Israel,” and concluding “Am Yisrael Chai —the people Israel lives!”
Speaker Johnson declared, “The calls for a cease-fire are outrageous. We stand with you on that.” The crowd responded with a chant of “No Cease-fire,” one of their loudest chants of the rally. Representative Jeffries followed: “Let me be clear: Israel has an absolute right to defend itself against Hamas terror. We must stand with Israel in its efforts to decisively defeat Hamas and make sure that this brutal terror organization will never rise again.”
The show of political unity paralleled a show of Jewish unity within the crowd itself, which included Jews of all ages and backgrounds, secular and visibly religious. Pro-Israel Jewish members of the Socialist Workers’ Party handed out copies of their newsletter, The Militant, while young members of Chabad buttonholed Jewish men to come to their tables and lay tefillin (mandated in Deuteronomy 6:8). Messianic Jews were represented by delegations from UMJC congregations Ohev Yisrael of Northern Virginia; Rosh Pina and Sukkat Shalom, Maryland; Sha’arei Shalom, North Carolina; Zera Avraham, Michigan; Simchat Yisrael, Connecticut; and others, as well as me representing the Union as Rabbinic Counsel.
The event permit was issued for 100,000, but conference organizers claimed attendance of over 200,000. Either number is impressive and registers massive support for Israel, significant opposition to antisemitism, and above all a demand for the release of all the hostages taken by Hamas.
Speaker Deborah Lipstadt, a prominent historian and U.S. State Department special envoy to combat antisemitism, told the crowd, “Do not sink to the level of those who harass you, but do not cower. Jews are strongest at their broken places.” She concluded with the biblical call, “Hazak, ve’ematz, be strong and of good courage!” (Deut 31:7, 23; Josh1:6–7; 10:25).
Later, near the conclusion of the rally, Israel’s ambassador to the U.S.A. Michael Herzog said, “We didn’t start this war, but we must finish it,” which set crowd to chanting, “Bring them home; bring them home!” He responded, “You are incredible. You give us strength. Now is the time to raise your voice.” He meant for us to raise our voices in protest and advocacy, but it struck me that we’re also to raise our voices in prayer, especially those of us who follow Yeshua the great intercessor. And now is the time.