By CBS NY and COLlive
Thousands of people gathered to rally for Israel in Times Square Sunday afternoon, as Israel battles the ongoing terror from Hamas in Gaza.
The crowd included Jews from all walks of life, including Lubavitchers that came from the Crown Heights neighborhood in Brooklyn. There was even a man holding a sign “I am a Palestinian Christian who loves Israel.”
Jews among the protesters chanted, “We are the Jews and we are not afraid,” as they gathered to stand with Israel at a rally at 42nd Street and Seventh Avenue, 1010 WINS’ Derricke Dennis reported.
As CBS 2’s Matt Kozar reported, the violence has actually been happening a world away from Times Square, but it felt real for many there.
Jeff Katz of the Lower East Side said he has family in Israel and, “of course I’m worried about them.”
Michael Collins is an Israeli living in New York City. “My parents are in Tel Aviv. I talked to them last night, 3 o’clock in the morning, and a bomb; a missile came from Gaza close to their neighborhood in Tel Aviv,” he said. “So they woke up scared and called me.”
Ayelet Vardi served in the Israeli military for five years. “The retaliation that started 14 days ago became something that is devastating for both sides, and we want to just end this,” Vardi said.
Lubavitchers in the crowd helped men put on Tefillin and say a prayer for Israel, its citizens and the brave soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces. Women were given candles for Shabbos.
Facing a group of Satmar chassidim standing alongside Arabs protesting Israel’s existence, a spirited group of Israelis began singing “Am Yisrael Chai.”
May this love, and outward support flow to all the state’s.
We The People love, and stand with Israel!!!
For such a time as this…
someone wrote kick hamas’ a** not appropriate for a support Israel rally
the reasons why the places you menioned are being bombed is simply beucuase they r terrosit hotspots.
I simply didn’t know! Next time col pls advertise . Thank u!
First of all, all Jews should be united, ser politics aside. Its important to show the world that we are UNITED narion and we support our country and our troops. This is a time of war and a time to daven for the safety of the soldiers who are litteraly risking their lives for the sake of AM Yisroel!
#8 :Well said.
You should know I love you. And I hope to only hear statments that resonate Positivity from you and others who think alike.
To #29 your almost as misinformed as the Lubavitchers who wave Israeli flags. We do support Yidden living in Eretz Yisroel and the army that protects them. We are vehemently against any land give away’s and support draft deferments for Yeshiva bochurim, however if you have any clue about modern day Israel you’ll understand how abused that system has become and sadly the other extreme won the past election and we’re paying that price now.
Lubavitch doesn’t support the anti religious zionist state of Israel or the IDF. We do not support the disengagement that led to all this bloodshed and we do not support Yeshiva students being drafted.
Since many jews were gathered in one place and they were open to yiddishkeit because to them Israel IS judaism, we decided to use out the opportunity to put on tefillin.
I agree with number 14. Couldn’t of said it better myself
actually, ahavas yisroel/ achdus is a huge thing as well, not just davening in shuls… and this demonstration, as well as many other demonstrations around the world, shows just how much achdus is among the jewish nation… and that just might be the thing hashem wants to see, especially in these times when we might have been having a little bit of trouble with this aspect…
moshiach now!
there might be more pro israel rallys this sunday, just look on the internet
its important to show the world the jews are unifief
Rocks!!!!
To all who said we should have been saying tehillim instead of holding a rally, Tehillim WAS said with the crowd at the opening of the rally. In addition, a few Torah Pesukim were recited, and Shema was said together. It was a beautiful gathering of Tefilla and unity.
This is a great show of all Jews together, we want to come to Israel, but right now can’t, so whatever jewish people can do in public is good, don’t be the snobby frummers, looking down your noses, I’m a lubuvitcher , and I think whatever Jews do in public to show we are the a Children of a Israel, is good. At least they all turned out.
we stand for Israel and the hearts of the soldiers is our. hearts
Moshiach Now!!
WOW WOW
I was about to write that myself! Also just adding on to my response to #1 dont complain or criticize if you’re not willing to make the right move!
to #5 They are smiling to show they care! There have been only anti-Israel rallies (like #8 said) and they are showing how they are making a move to show their patronage to Israel!
Also those who have negative things to say bite your tongue and chill!
Neturei Karta was there and they kind of ruined the moment. What’s wrong with them?
Kol Hakavod to the guys who went to a place where Jews are gathered to do Mivtza Tfilin.
Do we know who they are?
Funny, I noticed the same thing. Lehavdil, compare the pro-Israel rally with the pro-arab rally, one has people that are mad and are backing terrorists, and the other have peace-loving people who want to live without being bombed
Write!!!!! no 6
I agree with no one we are missing the point! We have lost 20 brothers in this war we need to be storming the heavens with Tefilos not the streets with banners!!!!
Moshiach Now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ya don’t you know the saying שמחה פורץ גדר? (Joy breaks all boundaries?) they are just showing the love that we all feel towards each other! I’m sure their smiles are for that feeling of unity they must have at that moment!
MOSHIACH NOW!
It helps at all times to look kindly at our fellow jews – especially now when Am Yisrael stands together to show strong support in these difficult last moments of Golus!
To #5 – Everybody smiling? A Mitzvah should always be done b’Simcha and with a smile!
In all cases – you can see real concern in every expression in this unified crowd…
T.H. Israel
(Is that Shaina E.? – Always with the kindest smile for everyone yet her true sincerity here is so obvious too…
We should meet now in Yerushalayim HaBnuya!)
But the article posted isn’t. The last quote from someone who ‘served in the army for 5 years’ basically blames Israel for ‘retaliating’ and causing devastation for ‘both sides’. Leaves the reader with a bad taste in his mouth.
Wish I had been there but it wasn’t advertised on COL.
We’re definitely winning the war iy”H!!
To #1 stop complaining and go ahead and arrange something in a shul.
To #2 well said.
To #5 there were plenty of speeches and tehillim said lzchus the soldiers and former members of Golani unit were invited to speak.
Why wasn’t there any signs or posters about the demonstrations?? I would have gone if I knew about it.
If you’re not afraid, come here! At least visit, show your solidarity. Yes, we appreciate your sentiments, it’s good to show the world Jews do care (so far there have been huge pro-Palestinian rallies and little or no response by Jews.) Book your vacations (NOT Turkish Airlines, we should boycott them) & show your support. to #1 you are an idiot. OF COURSE there are Tehillim groups etc etc but the WORLD needs to see we care. Rallies like this show the moronic public that we are united with Israel. Over here, we joined the Shmira project, where we daven… Read more »
love the BAY RIDGE contingency
sheesh, someones haaving a bad day. maybe people dont need to walk around frowning all day?you clearly should THINK before you wright
Why are so many people in this rally smiling as if they’re having a grand old time?! Do they think they’re at the Israel Day parade?? Don’t they realize Israeli civilians and soldiers are dying?!
Moshiach now
הקדוש ברוך הוא, אנחנו אוהבים אותך!
Am Yisroel Chai!
The Pintele Yid shines through every Jew.
No matter where each thinks s/he is on the religious or political spectrum, we are all one big family, and we LOVE EACH OTHER!
BARCHEINU AVINU KULANU K’ECHAD!
Wouldn’t it be more meaningful if people gathered in shuls and begged Hashem to protect the Jewish people and bring Moshiach?