A Peaceful Rally

Do you see me in that picture? I’m on the right side, about 300 rows back, and I’m wearing a red baseball cap.

Yesterday’s rally in Washington DC, estimated at 290,000 people, provides some important takeaways, especially when compared with other anti-Israel and anti-Jewish events that are taking place around the world.

1)??? It started in the early morning with peaceful prayers at the White House.

2)??? No one smeared paint, drew symbols, or wrote slogans on government or commercial property, calling for the destruction of anyone else.

3)??? The speakers, some famous but many not well-known, spoke of the hostages and the need for them to return home immediately and safely.

4)??? Student leaders spoke of the fear, hatred, and violence in their universities and how administrations have failed them.

5)??? The tactic of hiding behind civilians, placing weapons of war, and building tunnels to protect Hamas' leadership in civilian structures, hospitals, schools, and mosques was denounced.

6)??? Although other events worldwide featured crowds screaming “Gas the Jews,” no chants were loudly shouted calling to “Gas the Arabs” or “Gas the Muslims.” That is unthinkable for us and any caring person.

7)??? No one’s flags, symbols of national pride, were burned. American monuments, and this being Washington, DC, are as common as coffee shops, were NOT vandalized. None of these memorials demonstrating appreciation, compassion, and pride for our values and leaders were defaced. And no one replaced American flags with their flags.

8)??? American and Israeli flags waved side by side, symbolizing unity and a sharing of values.

9)??? LGBTQ flags in support of Israel were also on display, as people who understand the dangers of an ideology that does not tolerate other choices and lifestyles are a danger to all of us who cherish our individual freedom.

10) No posters were printed glorifying the deaths of any civilians. Pictures of kidnapped hostages, including babies, children, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, grandmothers, grandfathers, visitors from other countries, and Holocaust survivors, were not torn down and ripped to pieces by smiling-for-the-camera, soulless, and hypocritical "activists."

11) There was no support for organizations that are existential threats to the West, no ISIS headbands, no Hamas posters, and no Muslim Brotherhood or Islamic Jihad sign-ups.

12) Attendees thanked the security officers. We didn’t spit, curse, threaten, or fight law enforcement, whose role was – and always is – to protect people, regardless of beliefs and politics. Metal detectors, explosive detection, venue screening, National Guard, and local DC police – we thank you all for your service and the technologies that were used to maintain safety.

13) We heard about increasing hate crimes. Yes, it disproportionally is targeted at Jews, our homes, Jewish schools, and synagogues. We’re 2.4% of the population but suffer more than 50% of religious hate crimes. We know it’s impacting other minorities as well, including our Muslim neighbors. We spoke of the need to fight all this discrimination.

14) We stood for hours, mostly Jews, a good many Christians, and brave Arab neighbors, shoulder to shoulder. I saw and spoke with people from Jewish organizations, Christians United For Israel (CUFI) , citizens from across the country, and people who traveled thousands of miles on red-eye flights to attend and demonstrate their solidarity.

15) NY City Congressman Ritchie Torres stated, “Not everyone who is calling for a ceasefire wants Israel to cease to exist, but everyone who wants Israel to cease to exist is calling for a ceasefire.”

16) We fight against an ideology, not a people or a religion.

17) We remember and honor the victims – Israeli Jews, Arabs, Muslims, and foreign visitors, of October 7 and the days that follow.

“May their memories be a blessing for us all.”