Spreading The Word

With Israel solidarity rally a month away, activists
are mobilizing Jews across the country.

MICHAEL J. JORDAN
Jewish Telegraphic Agency

V is planes, trains and automobiles, tens of
thousands of Jews from across North
America are expected to descend upon New
York on Sept. 23 for the long-anticipated
continental rally in support of Israel, organizers say.
Preparations for the rally have begun to gel, with
speakers and sponsors spanning the religious and
political spectrum, including Israeli Prime Minister
Ariel Sharon.
The message will be one of solidarity with Israel,
and a reminder to Washington, the United Nations
and the rest of the world that Israel and Jews in the
Diaspora are united.
Perhaps even more important, said the rally's hon-
orary chairman, Nobel Prize winner Elie Wiesel, is
for Jews to stand together.
"Many of us have the feeling that we don't know
where to go," Wiesel said in a conference call with
American Jewish media. "We need to feel that we
are not alone, that we are with other Jews, that we
are with friends, that we are with Israel."
The federation world, led by the umbrella United
Jewish Communities, first discussed the possibility
of a large-scale rally back in March amid debate
about the most effective way to use communal funds
in showing solidarity with Israel.
The UJC tentatively planned a demonstration for
June 4 at Madison Square Garden in New York, but
canceled for what officials said was an inability to
guarantee Sharon's presence — or his security.
"The situation has changed so dramatically since
then, with a series of wake-up calls, that people need
an avenue of expression," said Arthur Naparstek, vice
president of the UJC's Israel and Overseas Pillar and
national director of the IsraelNow Solidarity Rally.
"Transcending our individual interests and differ-
ences is the centrality of Israel in people's lives, that
Israel is being challenged, and the message that Jews
are in Israel to stay," Naparstek said.
UJC Executive Committee Chairman Joel Tauber
of West Bloomfield said, "I am confident that Elie
Wiesel's passion, dedication and eloquence on behalf
of the Jewish people will be an inspiration to us all
in making a clear and unequivocal statement of soli-
darity with the government and people of Israel."
The UJC settled on Sept. 23 — in the middle of
the High Holidays and one day before the U.N.
General Assembly opens — as one element of its
multi-pronged "Israel Now and Forever" campaign.
The rally is being described as the most significant
for American Jewry since Dec. 6, 1987, when more
than 200,000 American Jews marched on Washington
to demand that Soviet Jews be allowed to emigrate.
In addition to Sharon, speakers fn.m Israel will

Federations have arranged a deal with Amtrak to
shuttle in Jews from Washington and scoop up
Jewish passengers from throughout the Northeast
corridor — from Boston, down through
Connecticut, into New York City.
A number of communities are offering partially
subsidized trips, for up to $100 off the normal fare.
Others are trying more creative approaches.
The Los Angeles community is luring larger
donors with a "Jewish roots" trip to New York, to be
coupled with the rally.
"They're really looking to make it a pleasurable
trip," Gayle-Almeleh said. For some, the trip will be
grueling — but worth it, activists say. The Jewish

include Knesset-Speaker Avraham Burg and perhaps
Housing Minister Natan Sharansky; from New York,
Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, Gov. George Pataki and
U.S. Sens. Charles Schumer and Hillary Clinton;.
Community Federation of Cleveland hopes to send
and from Washington, former vice presidential can-
500 to 1,000 members, marketing director Michael
didate Joseph Lieberman, among many others.
Bennett
said. One hundred seats have been reserved
Rally organizers say they chose
for
a
flight
and 18 buses have been chartered for the
New York over Washington because
eight-hour
drive.
it is home to the largest Diaspora
Community delegations are being encouraged to
Jewish community and because the
arrive
with a large banner indicating their home-
rally is not a protest against the
town, as is done at Democratic and Republican
Bush administration.
political conventions.
Besides, they said, they'd rather
The Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago
protest against the perceived anti-
has
chartered two 177-seat planes and hopes to send
Israel bias at the United Nations,
Elie Wiesel
a
contingent
of 500 that will stick together at the
headquartered in New York.
rally,
Executive
Vice President Michael Kotzin said.
Rally organizers brush off grumbling from those who
Locally,
the
Jewish
Community Council of
- suggest the event would make a stronger statement in
Metropolitan
Detroit
has
purchased a block of 18
Washington, and wonder whether the cost — an esti-
airline seats to send college students from Michigan
mated $900,000 to 51.2 million — would be better -
State University, the University of Michigan and
spent on solidarity trips to Israel.
metro Detroit Hillels.
In addition, some Israelis, at least in e-mails mak-
"Those who go will be making a commitment to
ing the rounds, have complained of the perceived
work
on their campuses to educate Jewish students,
inaction of American Jewry.
and
combat
anti-Israel activity if it occurs," said
"If we got preoccupied with the
Allan Gale, JCCouncil assistant
cynics and the naysayers, we'd
director for government rela-
never get anything done,"
tions. The Council is also pro-
Naparstek said.
viding information about air
Once word went out that the
travel and logistics to interested
THE ISSUE
rally's date was in stone, the com-
people
in the community.
munity swung into action.
A sliver of hope remains that the
Overall,
Gayle-Almeleh pre-
Through mail and fliers, e-mails
upcoming Peres-Arafat meeting will
dicted
that
some 65,000 people
and Web sites, newspaper and
lead to a cease-fire, But while the
may
turn
out,
though circum-
radio ads, Hillel: The Foundation
Egyptians and Jordanians have been
stances
may
draw
even larger
For Jewish Campus Life is organiz-
helpful, there are rising concerns
numbers.
ing its students, yeshivas are send-
about the war rhetoric emanating
Exactly how many Jews turn
ing their young scholars and syna-
from the region this past week_
out
Sept. 23 ultimately may
gogues of the four major streams
determine
whether the rally is
— Orthodox, Conservative,
BEHIND THE ISSUE
deemed
a
success.
Reform and Reconstructionist —
As Wiesel acknowledged, with
The Saudi ambassador to London
are mobilizing their congregants.
3
million
Jews in New York and
has
spoken
in
favor
of
the
war
Organizers predict that up to
6 million nationwide, a poor
option. Iraq's Saddam Hussein
130 of the 189 federations and
turnout would be "a mark of
boasts of moving a volunteer army
100 of the 123 community rela-
shame" for the community.
of 7 million to destroy Israel, and
tions councils nationwide will be
Moreover, he said, a poor
his deputy pledges to expel the
represented at the rally.
turnout
could be used as propa-
"pigs
and
monkeys"
from
Jerusalem
"We're trying to tap the energy
ganda
against
Israel, intended
and
Palestine.
Iran
promises
to
re-
we know is out there, to make it a
to
show
that
American
Jews
supply
Syria
if
war
breaks
out,
and
creative force in one place at one
don't
care
about
the
fate
of the
the
Iraqis
and
Palestinians
are
visit-
time," said Benita Gayle-Almeleh,
Jewish state.
ing Damascus to heal their rifts
the Jewish Council of Public
"I will not be satisfied with
with Syria, enabling a united front
Affairs' director of community
50,000 or even 100,000,"
against the Jewish State. Though
relations and special projects.
Wiesel said.
unthinkable, Israel continues to
Larger communities like
"We must concentrate our
plan
for
its
defense
in
the
event
of
a
Cleveland, Chicago, Atlanta and
efforts
to give Israel strength
regional
conflagration.
South Palm Beach County are
because
Israel gives us hope."
chartering airplanes.
— Allan Gale, Jewish Communi ty

Israel Insigjit

❑

Council of Metropolitan Detroit

8/24
2001

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