At 290,000-strong, 'March for Israel' is 'largest pro-Israel gathering in history'

(JNS) - "We have indeed made history today with over 290,000 of us gathered here on the National Mall. This is the largest pro-Israel gathering in history," William Daroff, CEO of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, told attendees of the "March for Israel" on the National Mall in Washington on Nov. 14.

Daroff, whose organization represents 50 member groups, added that another 250,000 watched the march on livestream and on C-SPAN.

"Look what we can do in just over a week. Imagine what we can do," said Eric Fingerhut, president and CEO of the Jewish Federations of North America, which represents 146 Federations. 

"Today's crowd brings together every sector of American life. People of all faiths and creeds, of all races and backgrounds, to say together with unity and strength, 'We support Israel's fight to rid itself of the terror threat and restore safety and security to its people,'" Fingerhut said.

Isaac Herzog broadcasts live from Western Wall

(JNS) - Israeli President Isaac Herzog broadcast a live address from the Western Wall in Jerusalem to the hundreds of thousands of participants at the "March for Israel" rally on Nov. 14 in Washington, D.C. Here is a portion of his speech:

"Sisters and brothers, I am speaking to you from the single most sacred site in the Jewish world-the Kotel-the Western Wall in Jerusalem. The Kotel that reminds us that Am Yisrael Chai ('the People of Israel lives'), we the people of Israel, are eternal and no one will break us.

"From the Jewish symbol of the fulfillment of our ancient dreams to the American symbols of freedom, liberty and democracy. Thank you, all people of goodwill, friends from different communities, faiths and denominations, who have gathered today for this massive show of solidarity.

"In the State of Israel's darkest moment you stood up and declared: Hineini, I am here. We are here. There is no greater and more just cause than this. Today, we come together, as a family, one big Mishpacha, to march for Israel. To march for the babies, the boys and girls, women and men viciously held hostage by Hamas. To march for the right of every Jew to live proudly and safely in America, in Israel and around the world. Above all, we come together to march for good over evil, for human morality over blood thirst. We march for light over darkness.

"Eighty years ago, Jews came out of Auschwitz and vowed 'never again.' As the blue-and-white flag was hoisted over our ancient homeland, we vowed 'never again.' Forty days ago, a terrorist army invaded the sovereign State of Israel and butchered hundreds upon hundreds of Israelis in the largest massacre since the Holocaust. Let us cry out, together: Never again. Never again is now...

"Since Oct. 7, Israeli society and the Jewish People have truly come together in unison. We feel our hearts beat as one. We hear our brothers' and sisters' blood crying out to us from the ground: 'The blood of our brothers calls out from the ground.' Once again in Jewish history we demand: Let our people go. Whilst our loved ones are held captive in Gaza, and our soldiers are fighting for our beloved Israel-Jews all over the world are assaulted for being Jewish. ...

"I salute you, the women and men who stand up to massive hatred and pressure in the community or on campus. Just as you stand with us, we stand with you.

"Dear friends, as President of the State of Israel, I vow to you from Jerusalem, from the Kotel, that we will heal, we will rise again, and we will rebuild...

"Together, we pray for the safe return of our hostages. Together, we pray for the full recovery of the wounded. And together we pray for our beloved sons and daughters in the IDF. May God bless them and keep them. Together we grieve and together we shall overcome. Am Yisrael Chai ('the People of Israel lives'). God bless Israel. God bless America."

A bipartisan group of members of Congress spoke

(JNS) - As Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) wrapped up her remarks on the National Mall, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) gestured behind her to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) that they would all clasp hands afterward.

When Ernst had finished, the four held hands and lifted their arms up. "We stand with Israel," they chanted over and over.

The bipartisan group addressed an estimated 300,000 people on Tuesday at the "March for Israel" on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

Throughout their remarks, they often joined in chants with attendees: "USA," "Never Again," "Let them go" and "Bring them home"-both referencing the hostages in Gaza-and Am Yisrael chai, "the People of Israel lives."

When the world ignored antisemitism in the last century, it led to the "worst catastrophe in human history," Schumer, the highest-ranking U.S. Jewish official, told the audience.

"Let us not forget history," he said. He noted that Israel was almost destroyed in 1967 and 1973. "We cannot, we must not let that happen again," he said. 

Even in its darkest days, the United States has always stood with Israel. "We will do everything to see that that never changes," Schumer said. "When Hamas says 'From the river to the sea,' they mean that all of present-day Israel should be a Jew-free land." 

Schumer also called for the release of all of the hostages.

"We in America have your back. America feels your pain. We ache with you," he said, addressing Israelis. "We stand with you. And we will not rest until you get all the assistance you need."

"The Jewish people will live forever," he added.

Johnson said that Israel's survival unites U.S. leaders, and indeed all Americans. The House speaker said that the United States stands "unequivocally" with Israel.

He noted that he and other lawmakers, from both sides of the aisle, watched a screening earlier that day of the footage of the brutality of Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7. "It's unspeakable," Johnson said of the footage. "Most couldn't sit through it."

"The calls for a ceasefire are outrageous," he said. He added that it is irresponsible for U.S. leaders to endorse a phrase like "From the river to the sea," which calls for the eradication of Israel. (He said he thought many students who use the phrase don't know what it really means.)

Jeffries said that the Jewish state will endure "always and forever."

"An attack on any of us is an attack on all of us," he said. 

"Where do we go from here?" Jeffries asked. America must stand with Israel as it decisively defeats Hamas and it must make sure the "brutal terror regime can never rise again" and that every hostage comes home. Then there can be just and lasting peace, Jeffries said.

"We are here today as Republicans and as Democrats to assure you, we will not shrink back and shudder in fear, as too many around the world already have," Ernst said.

Pastor John Hagee: Israel is not alone

The following is a portion of his speech:

"As We Gather here today in Israel's darkest hour since the Holocaust the Jewish people once again searched the globe for friends. I am here to deliver a singular message Israel: You are not alone. I want you to shout that loud enough for them to hear it in Jerusalem!

While the Jewish State faces the greatest danger since her rebirth 75 years ago, we pray for the people of Israel and the leaders of Israel. May God give you the wisdom of Solomon and the courage of King David and the victories of Joshua. You the leaders of Israel and you alone should determine how this war is going to be conducted and concluded.

You decide. No one else! ...

To my Jewish brothers and sisters, it is tempting to look at the present darkness and think that nothing has changed, however things have changed. More than 40 years ago I joined forces with an orthodox rabbi, Rabbi Shinberg, to bring Christians and Jews together in mutual love and respect. We stood shoulder to shoulder and we made this declaration: If a line has to be drawn then draw that line around both Christians and Jews. We are one!

Today we extend that line around everyone who is gathered here. We must all Stand United with one voice and boldly declare over and over: Israel You Are Not Alone!

Look at history, from Pharaoh to Haman to Hitler, all of these antisemitic cowards are remembered only for their failed attempt to destroy God's chosen people and Hamas is going to suffer the same fate as Israel's enemies. ...

Where are the Nations that have persecuted the Jewish people? They are historic footnotes in the Boneyard of human history. Where is Israel and the Jewish people that despite the efforts of Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah to destroy the Jewish Nation? Israel lives!

Israel may be shaken but she is not shattered! The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob guarantees Israel's deliverance will come. ...

The Bible says He that keepeth Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps.

Israel is the apple of God's eye.... God says of Israel: Israel is my firstborn son, Jerusalem is the city of God, Jerusalem is the shoreline of Eternity, Jerusalem is the Eternal capital of Israel today and forever! There is only one nation whose flag will fly over the ancient walls of the Sacred City of Jerusalem - that nation is Israel now and forever!

Those of us standing here and millions of other Christians were not here during the Holocaust but we're here now and we stand shoulder to shoulder with the Jewish people! We stand until those 240 hostages are returned to their homes. May God bless Israel!

'I hope all of our friends will be there for us,' says Montana Tucker at DC rally for Israel

The following articles are by David Swindle

(JNS) - "Just landed in D.C. for the March for Israel," the singer, actress and dancer Montana Tucker wrote on social media several hours before she took the stage on the National Mall. "I hope I make my Zadie and the rest of the Jewish people proud."

Tucker, whose collective TikTok and Instagram following numbers 12 million, wore an Israeli flag over her shoulders as she addressed the estimated crowd of 300,000 at the "March for Israel." 

"Both of my grandparents survived the Holocaust and growing up, I remember hearing them talk about what came right before," Tucker said. "The lies that began to spread about Jewish people. Who we are. How we pray. What we represent."

Some of her grandparents' friends "nevertheless started to believe those lies, and when the Nazis came, these friends just let it happen," Tucker said. "I wonder if they ever found peace afterwards, or if the rest of their lives were defined by the moment when they could have stood up but again they decided to stay silent. That's why I chose to do the opposite and stand loud and proud."

Tucker wondered if "the rest of our lives will be defined by what we choose to do in this very moment."

Young people must choose whether to remain silent and "let it all happen again," or they can "stand together on behalf of Jews in Israel and around the world, who no longer feel safe at school, at work, and especially, online."

"I hope that all of our friends will be there for us. That they will choose to stand with us," she said. "This is a moment that we will all remember forever, and what we do right now, in this moment, will stay with us for the rest of our lives."

"Can you guys just say with me, Am Yisrael chai?" Tucker asked, using the Hebrew phrase for "the people of Israel live." She then blew the audience a kiss.

'I've played big houses but ain't never played anything like this,' Tovah Feldshuh says

Actress Tovah Feldshuh, who is known for playing former Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir, injected some humor and quick-thinking wit into an otherwise sobering speech.

"My Hebrew name is Tovah Feldshuh, and my Starbucks name is Tovah Feldshuh," she began. "We stand here in the tens of thousands, and usually even if you have 10 Jews you have 10,000 opinions. But today, we stand in the thousands to say Am Yisrael chai, 'the people of Israel live.'"

The actress referenced her short physical stature but said she stands "tall for the almost 200 innocent citizens, almost 200 Israeli children of Israel who are now orphaned, for the 240 innocent citizens of Israel still held in captivity by Hamas, for the kidnapped babies, and the Holocaust survivors abducted and hidden somewhere in Gaza."

Feldshuh cited the rabbinic statement that losing one Jew is like losing a whole world.

"As we stand shoulder to shoulder, we transform thousands of our yahrzeit candles into one supernova of light and hope illuminating the memories of those we have lost and shedding light on the murderers who brought them to their death," she said. "We stand here firm against global antisemitism. We stand firm in confrontation with antisemitism here in these United States. We stand here to say, 'Enough.'"

The actress told the attendees that "we are now engaged in a battle reaching beyond any Arab-Israeli conflict. We are engaged in a battle fighting for a civilized world. We stand here knowing that the halls of our universities should be havens of enlightenment and moral clarity, and not places where Jewish students, Jewish faculty or any minority feels outcast and afraid of being physically abused."

She warned college and university presidents that remaining silent would be complicity. She quoted Albert Einstein: "The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil but by those who watch them and do nothing."

Feldshuh cited moments of hope. "Since Oct. 7, amidst the darkness, we've seen glimmers of light-world landmarks lit up in blue and white from New York to Miami, from Paris to Prague and Baku-showing our beloved and brave Israel that she does not stand alone."

When Feldshuh mentioned she had the honor to play Meir, suddenly the Israeli and U.S. flags behind her blew over.

"Wow. I think Golda may be here today," Feldshuh said, as cheers broke out. "As Prime Minister Golda Meir said, 'Some people love you, and some people love you and show up.' You show up and that makes all the difference."

Debra Messing on hostages: 'We cannot allow the world to move on'

"Debra, we love you!" a voice cried out as actress Debra Messing began her speech, prompting an "I love you, too," in response.

"I know you are in pain. I know you are afraid. I know you feel alone and abandoned by people you thought were your friends. I know you feel misunderstood and maligned," she said. "I know because I do, too."

Messing, who is Jewish, still urged hope, prompting cheers from the crowd: "Looking out at all of us today, also know that we are not alone because we have each other."

She described now as a time of testing and said that "a tsunami of hate has crashed down upon us and then a deafening silence. We see clearly now. We see naked, virulent Jew-hatred being disguised as a noble call for liberation. And we reject it."

Referencing the death of 69-year-old pro-Israel rally-goer Paul Kessler in Los Angeles earlier this month, Messing asked: "What does Israel's defense in response to a terrorist attack have to do with an elderly Jewish man in California killed for holding an Israeli flag?" 

Messing declared, "This is madness. This is terrorism. But we will win. We always have. We are strong, resilient and devoted. And we will not lose ourselves. We will worry for our global Jewish family and also hurt for the innocent Palestinians used as human shields by Hamas. We will work to eviscerate Hamas and also pray for a free and flourishing Gaza."

The hostages kidnapped by Hamas then became a focus of Messing's speech, as she said: "We will remember and work for the release of the 240 hostages as well as for the safety of the 2.2 million Gazans also held hostage by Hamas. We will pray for the success of the IDF in a war Israel did not start and did not want but a war Israel will win ... because we must."

Chants of "Bring them home!" began as large posters of the kidnapped victims rose from the crowd. Then a brief video was shown about the hostages.

Messing concluded, reminding that "it has been 38 days since the 240 hostages were taken. Mothers, brothers, babies, grandmothers ... we cannot allow the world to move on. We must not rest until these families are made whole. We have a number of them here with us today. In solidarity with them. I'd like to ask you to hold up your placards, their faces, for a moment of silence."

Natan Sharansky: 'We'll defeat our enemies today'

Natan Sharansky, the former Soviet refusenik and Israeli statesman, of his fight for Soviet Jewry to his immigration to Israel-that "they challenged the most powerful and most cruel dictatorship of those days. And that's why many people thought that their struggle, our struggle is doomed."

"But the fact is," he countered, "that we never thought we were alone ... when in the long years in prison, I was told again and again that I'm alone, that I'm abandoned, that we failed, it was enough for me simply to remember all those faces of Jews from America, from Britain, from Canada, who were coming to us to Moscow to support us, to understand that KGB is lying."

Sharansky said during his imprisonment that "the picture of one Jewish fighting family was always in my head. And that is why it was so clear that ... the outcome of our struggle can only be our victory."

He described the dark shadow hanging over the Jewish state right now that "we in Israel go through difficult days, we go from one funeral of a soldier who fell fighting against Hamas yesterday, and another funeral of the family who was tortured and killed five weeks ago but was identified only now."

"And you go to the family whose children were kidnapped, who became hostages, and wherever you go, you hear more and more stories about torture and murder. How to keep going? You keep going by doing it together," Sharansky said.

The Russian dissident called the Jewish people "one fighting family, a family that is so strong, which has so much love. And know that there is only one outcome in this battle: Our victory."

Sharansky also confronted the anti-Israel protesters in America, who are especially concentrated in academia.

"But then we find out that there is another front in this world, and it's not in the tunnels of Gaza ... but in Harvard, in Yale, in Penn, in Columbia, in all those places that are supposed to be the bastions of enlightenment and wisdom and from these places we hear today the gleeful of cheers, gleeful cheers of those who watch this most barbaric, awful pogrom in modern history and say, 'that is liberation movement.'"