The 2023 March for Israel

Best Moments: Like many of his fellow New MexiJews, Abq Jew was not able to attend this week's March for Israel at the National Mall in Washington, DC.

But - also, like many of his fellow New MexiJews - Abq Jew was there in spirit, and was able to follow the livestreamed speakers, music, and events from the Land of Enchantment.

Here is what Marcela Homsany and Amy Klein wrote in the Jerusalem Post today:

Close to 300,000 march for Israel in Washington, decry antisemitism

According to the organizers, this has been the largest pro-Israel rally in the history of the United States.

WASHINGTON – Close to 300,000 demonstraters gathered in Washington on Tuesday for the March for Israel, to demand the release of hostages under Hamas captivity, and demonstrate their determination to combat the increasing levels of antisemitism since October 7.

According to the organizers, this has been the largest pro-Israel rally in the history of the United States. At the rally, the humming of Hatikvah carried throughout the crowd for what seemed to be miles, while Israeli flags painted the multitude of attendees in blue and white.

The rally was organized by the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations (CoP) and the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA). Estimates early in the day named the rally as the biggest one in support of Israel in the US to date.

One of the best speeches of the day was by Deborah Lipstadt, United States Special Envoy for Monitoring and Combating Anti-Semitism. Here is what Jacob Magid reported from the March in the Times of Israel:

Biden envoy at pro-Israel rally: Those chanting ‘glory to the martyrs’ are inciting hatred

“As a representative from President Biden and Vice President Harris and the United States government, I can tell you without hesitation, regardless of party or political persuasion at the White House or in the Congress at home, and abroad. This government stands shoulder to shoulder against Jew hatred,” [Deborah Lipstadt] says to cheers.

“Today in America we give antisemitism no sanction, no foothold, no tolerance, not on campus, not in our schools, not in our neighborhoods, not in our streets or the streets of our cities. Not in our government. Nowhere. not now, not ever,” Lipstadt declares.

“When protesters chant ‘Peace and glory to the martyrs,’ that incites more hatred, more deaths.”

“It is a danger to the values and underpinning of the stability and decency of any society anywhere in the world. Hate is not a zero-sum game, hate and violence directed at any member of our society because of who they are is un-American and wrong."

Another great speech was by Democratic Congressman Ritchie Torres (NY-15), whose district includes heavily-Jewish Riverdale. Torres told the crowd

Not everyone calling for a ceasefire wants Israel
to cease to exist. But everyone who wants Israel
to cease to exist is calling for a ceasefire.

The best sign (and there were a lot of very good ones) seen at the March?

And let us all say -