JCC State of Mind - November 17, 2023

With Jason in Israel this week as a part of a JCC Association solidarity mission, he asked the group of JCC bus co-captains who attended the March for Israel rally in Washington D.C. on Tuesday to reflect on their experience.?This national grass roots effort was organized by the Jewish Federations of North America and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations of which JCC Association is an active partner.

Over 290,000 people marched peacefully and empathically in-person for Israel and over 250,000 tuned in online, an opportunity for all Americans to come together in solidarity with the people of Israel, to demonstrate our commitment to America’s most important ally in the Middle East, to condemn the rising trend of antisemitic violence and harassment, and to demand that every hostage be immediately and safely released.?This was the LARGEST gathering ever in American Jewish history, with many friends and allies in attendance from outside the Jewish community.

Hundreds of Pittsburghers attended in person, led by a 10 bus caravan organized by Federation and supported by a number of JCC staff members.?I had the privilege of co-captaining one of the South Hills buses and the power of travelling together as a community from throughout our metropolitan region was palpable – young and old, observant and secular, city and suburban.

Rabbi Amy Greenbaum led our bus in a brief prayer written especially for this occasion by Rabbi Evan Schultz…

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I arise today

in the name of hope and peace.

I am blessed and I am ready,

I am here and I am present.

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I carry today

those who sat along the?

rivers of Babylon,

who prayed to return home,

who longed to dance?

in the streets of Jerusalem.

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I stand today?

for the pioneers?

and for the soldiers,

for the hostages young and old,

for all those who mourn and grieve. ?

I march today?

for my people Israel,

for my children and?

for my grandparents,

for our safety and for our future. ?

I pray today?

for more compassion,

for a world yet to be,

for generations yet to be,

for a world redeemed.

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I place myself today

on the arc of history,

in our nation's capitol.

I stand as an American,?

as Israel, as a Jew.

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May I have the courage?

to march peacefully,

stand proudly,

pray softly,

and sing with fullness of heart.

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May we swiftly bring them home,

and may all God's sacred beings,

one day know wholeness and peace.

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Here are a few observations from some of our fellow JCC staff members who also served as bus co-captains.

“I haven’t been to Israel… yet. I didn’t know what would make?me?feel more connected, but I didn’t expect it to be singing both Hatikvah and Matisyahu’s ‘One Day’ on the National Mall alongside Two Hundred and Ninety Thousand of my friends. I didn’t think it would affect me the way it did to see people praying on the bus I staffed or to fall into the arms of familiar faces hundreds of miles away from where we both live, or to stand shoulder to shoulder with Jews from every walk of life. So while I haven’t been to Israel yet, I am certain now, in a way that I wasn’t before, that I will.“ - Jennifer Goldston

"It’s impossible to pick a highlight from a day that was full of them. Being in a space, with hundreds of thousands of Jews and supporters of Israel is something I’ll never forget. Singing Hatikvah – perhaps the most emotional Hatikvah I’ve ever sang – is a memory I will cherish forever, all while sharing the entire day with my family. ?The entire experience – from the singing on the bus, as we approached Washington, DC, to marching together towards our nation’s capital, to listening, cheering, is one that I will be forever grateful for having the opportunity to experience. Not to mention how proud I was to stand with Israel, and my Pittsburgh community, while speaking out against antisemitism, and for the safe return of all the hostages." -Aaron Cantor

"To be a part of this historical experience in community with hundreds of Pittsburghers and hundreds of thousands of community members from around the country was an incredibly meaningful, powerful experience that I will never forget." - Rachael Speck

"I knew the day was going to be special when I saw a group of young women Israeli dancing and an Orthodox man davening behind the bus in the parking lot in Breezewood. I had no idea how moving it would be until I ascended the escalator from the DC metro and entered a massive crowd of Jews of all ages, backgrounds, colors, shapes and sizes, all with one purpose…to stand with Israel! The signs, flags, t-shirts, capes and other symbols of support for our homeland were overwhelmingly powerful.? Of course, hearing the parents of several hostages pleading with us to not forget about their loved ones in captivity and singing Hatikvah with over 300,000 was chilling, to say the least. It was my honor, privilege and obligation to be a part of the March for Israel." - Teddi Horvitz

For me, this march brought me back to my earliest days as a Jewish communal professional.? As a young practitioner in Baltimore, I was tasked as one of the organizers of bus transportation for the 1987 Free Soviet Jewry rally in D.C.?Seeing a quarter of a million people come together for one purpose left a profound mark on me and propelled me into this field.?36 years later, I was even more deeply moved by the sheer numbers, the sense of purpose, and grateful to express the First Amendment right to lawfully and peacefully gather as an indelible part of the American civic fabric.?The events in the Middle East are far from settled and the challenges are great, but it was truly amazing to see so many people who genuinely care and were able to gather in less than a week’s notice for a cause so many of us hold so dear.

I look forward to Jason’s safe return next week and his message to all of you on his experience in Israel.

Wishing you and your families a Shabbat Shalom,?

Brian