Ana Robbins, founder and executive director of Jewish Kids Group, posted a photo of the crowd attending the Nov. 14 “March for Israel” rally on Facebook and quipped, “I love going to the mall with friends.”
According to Robbins – who is married to Eric Robbins, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta – approximately 700 Atlantans traveled to Washington, D.C., for the rally organized by the Jewish Federations of North America and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.
Organizers estimated that the crowd at the National Mall numbered just under 300,000, making it one of the largest Jewish rallies in American history.
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Atlantans who added to those numbers seemed overwhelmingly inspired by their presence. “When I heard that there was a rally in Washington to stand with Israel, to call for a speedy return of the hostages, and to end the rampant antisemitism in America, there was no place else to be,” said Rabbi Peter Berg of The Temple.
“I’m proud of and inspired by the countless Temple members who booked flights to all be together on the National Mall. It was truly a moment of Klal Yisrael, of Jewish unity,” said Berg. “I’m especially grateful to the leadership of both parties in Congress who held hands while chanting ‘bring them home’. It was important for the world to see so many people calling out Hamas terrorists. I will not stop going to Washington in the coming weeks to make sure my voice is heard loud and clear.”
The rally resulted from the desire of American Jews to express their concern, and support, for Israel in the wake of the deadly attack by Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7. Israel estimates that 1,200 people were killed not far from the Gaza border, with thousands more injured, about 240 abducted as hostages into Gaza and dozens still missing and whose bodies are unidentified. As Israel…
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