Jewish organizations from across the United States are urging Jews to participate in a major pro-Israel rally in Washington, D.C. on November 14th.
The event, known as the “March for Israel,” is being organized by the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, as reported by The Times of Israel.
According to Eric Fingerhut, CEO of JFNA, the march has three main objectives. Firstly, the participants will demand the release of approximately 240 hostages who were kidnapped by Hamas terrorists during the brutal attacks on civilians in Israel on October 7th.
Secondly, there will be a focus on combating the alarming rise of antisemitism worldwide in the wake of these terror attacks. Lastly, the march aims to show support for the unwavering backing of Israel by both Congress and the Biden administration in its efforts to combat Hamas. Fingerhut emphasized the importance of all three objectives for Jewish communities. He expressed pride in the government’s support for Israel and emphasized the need for sustained efforts in addressing the ongoing conflict. In a show of solidarity, a bipartisan group of House lawmakers organized a candlelight vigil on the east front steps of Capitol Hill.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) joined their colleagues from both parties to commemorate the one-month anniversary of the brutal Hamas attacks on Israel. During the vigil, Johnson reaffirmed congressional support for Israel and mentioned meetings between Republican leaders and families of the kidnapped hostages, appreciating the families’ presence and sharing of their stories. Jeffries also briefly addressed the gathering, invoking a Psalm and reiterating America’s support for Israel in its time of need.
The vigil concluded with a prayer led by Speaker Johnson, expressing condolences for the victims, strength for the hostages, and wisdom for the leaders involved. As previously reported, on October 7th, Hamas terrorists launched a surprise attack on Israeli communities, resulting in the tragic loss of at least 1,400 lives, including 33 Americans. They also abducted over 240 hostages and brought them to Gaza. In response, Israel initiated Operation Swords of Iron the same day. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared the nation to be at war, vowing to prevail against the terror group.
U.S. President Joe Biden unequivocally stood with Israel, condemning the Hamas attack as an act of sheer evil. He emphasized the importance of supporting Israel in defending its citizens and responding to the attack, stating that there is no justification for terrorism. Following the Hamas attacks, the U.S. Defense Department deployed two Aircraft Carrier Strike Groups and an amphibious group with 2,500 Marines to the region.
Additionally, the Pentagon supplied the Israel Defense Forces with weapons and two Iron Dome missile defense systems to assist in their fight against Hamas. In summary, Jewish organizations in the U.S. are rallying Jews to participate in the “March for Israel” in Washington, D.C., with a focus on demanding the release of hostages, combating antisemitism, and supporting bipartisan backing for Israel. Lawmakers demonstrated bipartisan support through a candlelight vigil, honoring victims, and expressing solidarity with Israel.
The Biden administration has also shown its support through military deployments and supplying defense systems to Israel.
