Rally draws attention
to the tension in Israel

By Jon Campisi
Times Staff Writer

It was fitting that the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia chose as the site for its peace rally JFK Plaza, better known as LOVE Park, in Center City.
After all, the message for the day was love not hate, peace not violence.
The aim of the March 19 outdoor rally was to combat terrorism and display solidarity with Israel, two messages that did not fall on deaf ears.
Many in the crowd held placards containing written messages including Israel, We Stand With You; Stop Arab Terrorism; and True Security = Peace Agreement.
"I stand here today as a friend, as a supporter," of Israel, said Mayor Michael Nutter, one of a handful of dignitaries in attendance. "Israel ... always has been and always will be a true beacon of democracy in the Middle East."
The new mayor, who since he took office in January has made combating city violence a priority, said many Philadelphia crime problems can be traced to the home, and so can violence elsewhere.
"This terrorism must stop. It must come to an end," Nutter said. "It is also clear that until parents stop teaching their children to hate, to hate, to hate, we will not bring this senseless violence to an end."
Nutter was referring to the idea of martyrdom being instilled in children from a young age in radical Islamic circles.
Dr. Victoria Yansey, who works as a guardian angel for the School District of Philadelphia, noted the rally’s timeliness given the recent killings at a Jewish seminary in Jerusalem.
During the March 6 attack, a Palestinian living in Israel killed eight students and wounded nine before being fatally shot by an off-duty Israeli Defense Forces officer.
"Violence against students is especially heinous," said Yansey, whose job as guardian angel has her working with the families of school district students who have been affected by violence.
Rabbi David Gutterman, the lead rabbi affiliated with the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, spoke about the importance of standing behind Israel, given its perpetual fight against those who want to see the Jewish state destroyed.
"What affects one Jew directly affects all Jews directly," Gutterman said, playing on the old Martin Luther King Jr. saying that goes: "What affects one person directly affects all people indirectly."
One of the estimated 300 people in attendance was Adam Buchoff, a junior at the University of Pennsylvania and vice president of the school’s Penn Zionist Freedom Alliance.
"I came out to support the idea that Jews have a right to live safe and securely in their homeland," said Buchoff, who attended the rally with an Israeli flag draped across his body.
Buchoff, who spent three months living in Israel, said he attends many of these types of rallies in support of the Jewish homeland, a country that, he said, "is daily facing its annihilation.
"Unfortunately, these days it’s always a critical time for Israel," he said of the country, whose size and population are similar to those of the state of New Jersey.
Buchoff said he was pleased to see a handful of politicians in attendance, although he would like to see the officials "put their money where their mouth is" when it comes to supporting Israel.
One such lawmaker who came to the rally was rising political star Josh Shapiro, a Democratic state representative from Abington who is also an involved member of the Jewish community.
The legislator also has ties to Philadelphia, particularly the Northeast. His mother, Judy Shapiro, is the teen learning community director at Congregations of Shaare Shamayim on Verree Road in Bustleton.
A contingent from Shaare Shamayim, led by the synagogue’s executive and educational director, Jacques Lurie, attended the rally.
"We’re here to support Israel," Lurie said. "It’s an absolutely critical time."
Lurie said the barrage of daily rocket fire into Israel has made life difficult for Israelis simply trying to go to school and work. It’s at the point now where schools are having to build concrete umbrellas to shield children playing outside from these attacks, Lurie said.
Things are made more difficult, he said, by the fact that Israel is attempting to deal with two Palestinian governments — one a more moderate group led by the Fatah faction, and the other run by Hamas, which the U.S. brands a terrorist organization. Hamas currently controls the Gaza Strip.
"How do you talk with someone (whose) tenet is destroy you?" Lurie asked, referring to Hamas.
Lurie said it’s difficult to combat terrorism when one cannot understand the mindset of radical groups. The only thing Jewish leaders can do, he said, is get to children from a young age.
"We’re teaching our children that Israel wants to live in peace," he said.
A mix of young and old attended the rally, including a busload of students in grades six through 12 from the Barrack Hebrew Academy in Merion Station, Pa.
The Jewish day school is expected to relocate to the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia’s Radnor campus in September. ••
Reporter Jon Campisi can be reached at 215-354-3038 or jcampisi@phillynews.com