Under a gentle drizzle Sunday afternoon (12/17), hundreds of local residents gathered at the foot of Halls Pond to unite against anti-Semitism and call for the release of some 161 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.
County Executive Bruce Blakeman kicked off the vigil with strong remarks condemning recent acts against Jewish Americans locally and on college campuses and denouncing a sense of “moral equivalency” in some circles – particularly academia — between terrorism and Israel’s defensive actions.
Blakeman, a Republican and the first Jewish American to hold his post, said Nassau has the third largest population of any county in the US, with over 300,000 people identifying as Jewish. “It’s very important that we make our voices heard.” He detailed Hamas atrocities committed against Israelis in the Oct. 7 surprise terror attack and disagreed with those calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, saying “you cannot stop until every Hamas fighter is destroyed.”
Rabbi Joshua Goller of the Young Israel of West Hempstead praised the town’s “beautiful model of cohesiveness” in standing against hatred of all kinds, while Rabbi Elon Soniker of Congregation Anshei Shalom noted anti-Semitism is an “ancient phenomenon that mutates over time” and when it thrives “civilization and morality crumble.”
Rabbi Art Vernon of Congregation Shaarey Shalom in Dogwood read from psalms and vowed “united, we will prevail.” Rabbi Yossi Lieberman of Chabad of West Hempstead said “It is clear to all that this is a battle against evil,” in which people must respond by “increasing acts of goodness and kindness.”
In a show of support for the Jewish community, Father Anthony Stanganelli of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish told the crowd “God’s tears are echoed in your hearts this afternoon. We stand always against the enemy of unity, which is terror and hatred.”
Pastor Ray Lorthioir recalled that since posting a pro-Israel message on the board outside Trinity Lutheran Church here, he’s received more than 100 messages of support from as far away as Israel, praising his sentiment. The written message said “The World is asking Israel to show mercy. When will the world ask — demand — the same from Hamas?”
Sponsored by the organization One Israel Fund, the rally was partially in response to recent incidents in the area, including “Hitler” messages written in shaving cream on Halloween and the vandalism of a Chabad menorah.
Moshe Hill, one of the rally organizers and master of ceremonies, in his remarks stressed the connection between these local incidents and national anti-Semitic events, including a lethal incident in Los Angeles and students at Cooper Union College being forced to shelter in a library during an angry pro-Palestinian rally. “Hatred for Israel and for Jews and Christians is rooted in ignorance,” he said.
At several points during the rally people in passing cars on Hempstead Turnpike appeared to shout pro-Palestinian slogans, drawing reaction from the speakers.
And at some point during the rally, unknown counter-protestors quietly placed mock child-sized body bags, stained with red paint on benches with posters naming Palestinian children the counter-protestors say were killed in Gaza.
The posters were designed to look like the Israeli hostage posters placed around town by the Jewish community.
The graphic display, which many found disturbing was accompanied by signs reading “Anti-Genocide is not Anti-Semitism” and “Don’t tie my religion to genocide,” accompanied by a Jewish star.
