“Stand with Israel Rally” Draws Hundreds to Greenwich Town Hall

Friday morning’s “Stand with Israel” rally was organized by the Town of Greenwich in partnership with the UJA-JCC Greenwich and AJC Westchester/Fairfield.

The event was in response to Israel’s deadly war with Hamas who launched a surprise against Israel from Gaza on Oct 7, killing more than 1,300 people.

First Selectman Fred Camillo greeted a crowd of several hundred people, saying it was a horrible event that brought people of all backgrounds to town hall.

“Hate knows no boundaries, nor respects any laws. We’ve seen that the last year-and-a-half in Ukraine, the likes of which we haven’t seen in 80 years in Europe,” Camillo said. “That’s why it’s important for gatherings like this.”

Clergy from all faiths joined elected officials from state, local and federal levels, including Connecticut’s senior US Senator Richard Blumenthal.

“I am on my way to Washington this coming week to make sure that we commit whatever is necessary for Israel to win this fight for freedom and independence,” Blumenthal said. “This war on a terrorist organization must be won because it is unadulterated evil, as President Biden said.”

“This war is personal for many of us,” Blumenthal added. “Two of my cousins are on their way to the front right now. I am sure that if I asked for a show of hands that almost all of you would have some personal connection in grief and rage.”

“We need to make sure that personal connection is made real in the support that we give to Israel – more than words – we need to give them the arms, humanitarian aid – whatever is necessary. We stand with Israel, in the days to come, and forever.”

Rabbi Jordie Gerson from Greenwich Reform Synagogue explained Israel’s national anthem was called Hatikvah, “The Hope.”

“Hope is our our birthright, hope is our commandment, hope is our obligation, hope for the return of our hostages, for the safety of our soldiers.”

Reverend Marek Zabriskie from Christ Church Greenwich noted that people in Israel are facing one of their greatest losses in their history, and the greatest in the past five decades.

“Our hearts go out to everyone who lost a brother, sister or cousin – a sibling, father, a child. We pray for the release of the hostages,” he continued. “These acts are barbaric and reveal people who have lost their sense of humanity.”

“We pray also for all civilians in Israel. Our Jewish brothers and sisters, our Muslim brothers and sisters, our Christian brothers and sisters,” he added, noting he hoped that leaders on all sides heed their better angels for lasting peace.

“I don’t want to be here today. We should not be here today. I should not have woken up on Shabbat with the horrors, the massacres, of what took place in Israel by Hamas,” said Myra Clark-Siegel, regional director of AJC Westchester/Fairfield.

“The Jewish people and Israel, and our government officials have been warning about Hamas and its terror campaign for years and it has fallen on deaf ears. No more. When we say never gain, we mean never again.”

Of the victims Ms Clark-Siegel said, “This is not numbers. This is 1300 people, lives and worlds unto their own that are cut down. There is not one Jewish family, there is not one Israeli family who is untouched today.”

“And we have hostages – babies, children, Holocaust survivors, mothers, fathers, that were kidnapped,” she said, adding a request that government officials and diplomats uses their voices and power to bring the hostages home, safe and whole.

“This is barbarism. This is depravity. We must condemn Hamas and all of its proxies for which it stands as terror,” she added. “We must eradicate this terror because this is not just a threat to Israel. This is a threat to democracy around the world. There are hostages from all many nations.”

“The world suddenly has seemed to become a much more scary place,” Rabbi Deren said. “But is it really more scary? It’s true we see these pictures and the videos, and testimonies of those who survived terrible slaughter at the hands of barbarians, it’s horrifying. And the world is in a sudden and surprised shock.”

“It’s a reaction, especially as we see in the words of our president that is quite heartwarming, but as he also pointed out, for us, as the Jewish people, this is nothing new.”

“From the very beginning of our existence as a nation, 3300 years ago, there have been enemies whose stated goal is the annihilation of the Jewish people.”

Rabbi Mitchell Hurvitz from Temple Sholom said there had been an incredible outpouring of support that deserved gratitude.

“I stood here two days after 9/11 when we gathered as a community. We had 23 losses in our community that was staring at the face of evil. For a lot of us, it’s like being there as it was then.”

“We need to be together and support each other, to offer comfort, to extend our hands for healing, to make sure that we have the appropriate, as a greatest democracy in the world,” he said.