In My Eyes: "Say Yes to Peace, No to Terror" Rally - Chicago 7.22.2014

Ok, so I was supposed to work today...on TWO curricular teams, but I knew that I would not have been able to concentrate on work while turning my back on the opportunity to stand with Israel at today's rally down in Chicago, sponsored by StandWithUs and The Israel House. So don't tell anyone that I was playing hookey - - - kidding. I was honest with my colleagues and they are well aware of my passion for Israel. They were supportive, as always.

I am not sure if there is some kind of blog rule in terms of length or content. Part of me feels like I could/should write a separate blog on about five items that stood out to me today. Ultimately, I decided to keep my firsthand observations in one place...

After the kids were off to camp, the wife and I hitched a ride on the train and began our trek to the city. This was not our first time at a rally to support Israel - and we knew quite well that there would be a vocal counter protest. But I'll be honest, I cannot get used to seeing adults dressing as terrorists (with scarves covering their faces), seeing adults carrying bundles made out to be dead children, seeing adults holding signs equating Israel to Nazis with swastikas (I guarantee that none of them have ever stood at Auschwitz, at Majdanek, at Treblinka, at Terezin; nor have they ever stared through the ashes of a Nazi crematorium), and seeing adults almost trying to goad others into a street fight. But all of that was present today.

Several of my friends had expressed their reservations about us attending the rally. Of course, it is always something to be aware of when emotions are so raw, but this is how we roll. We've both been in Israel during trying times - I was there right before the 1st Intifada and drove past burning tires and demonstrations, I was there in the mid-90s when buses were blowing up in the streets, and I have been there during tense times in the north. Standing with Israel in Chicago is easy compared to what my Israeli friends and their families are going through - so it was obvious for us to go. At no point during the day, did I feel threatened or in danger - at least from the Hamas supporters. The Chicago Police Dept. did a fine job of keeping the two groups separate for the most part (more on this later) - and all bags were searched on the way into the closed off rally area.

As I have been involved in the Jewish Community for as long as I can remember, it is inevitable that I run into folks from all walks of my life. Today, I saw a former temple educator who had a profound affect on my life - and who I had the privilege of accompanying back to her Polish home for the first time since the Holocaust. I saw colleagues from the Jewish world and Taglit. And I saw several students from our high school. Most touching though, was my encounter with the father of a former student who left just yesterday for Israel - a young man that is starting his Hebrew classes so that he can join the IDF later this fall. I had to hug this man, this father that is making a huge sacrifice - letting go and supporting his son as he pursues his passion to serve and protect Israel and Jews worldwide.

Probably the most inspirational portion of the rally came from a non-Jewish Israel supporter - Pastor Chris Harris enthusiastically espousing his support of Israel. Invoking images of MLK and the many Jews that marched with him to Selma, Alabama, Pastor Harris told the crowd it was as important to stand with Israel against terror, as it is to stand with folks in the city of Chicago that are plagued by gang and gun violence on a daily basis. And he is right - we need to stand up and find a way to do away with the senseless violence that goes on in our backyard daily. Pastor Harris culminated his rousing oration by singing HaTikvah. I've linked the video on my Facebook feed...I swear, one day I'll get good enough to embed links in my blogs too :) Thank you, Pastor Harris.

The flip side to Pastor Harris though is that the rest of the rally was generally unenthusiastic. Chicago's Jewish leaders have to realize that their audience is not there to hear talking points - we already know them for the most part. Instead, people want to be inspired, people want to sing, people want to chant, and people want to support Israel. We tried to start up renditions of "Am Yisrael Chai," but we were overshadowed by speakers. The exception to this was the words of Israel Consul General, Roey Gilad, who I enjoy listening to as he expressed the feelings of support felt by Israelis from the diaspora in the U.S. and around the world. Hopefully, future rallies will be more enthusiastic and less about political grandstanding.

After the rally, which lasted all of 30 minutes, the wife and I hung out around some Israelis that were singing Israeli tunes and holding a sign honoring the brave Golani Brigade - the unit that has seemed to have suffered the most losses thus far in this conflict. While I know many soldiers in various units, some of the most inspirational Israelis that I have met through my work with Shorashim and Taglit are members of the Golani Brigades. I was happy to see folks honor this brigade that has been at the forefront of many wars in Israel's decorated history.

The biggest 'issue' of the day occurred as the rally dispersed. The pro-Israel crowd gathered on the corner across from the pro-Hamas folks on the other side of the street. I call them the pro-Hamas folks because by rallying against Israel, they also fail to support the real victims of this mess - the innocent Palestinians held hostage in Gaza, not by Israel, but by Hamas. For those unaware, Israel left Gaza in 2005. It was a painful scene as the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) had to physically remove some of the Jewish settlers that had made their home in Gaza. At the time, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon made the difficult decision to leave Gaza in hopes that the Palestinians there could establish their own enclave - a potential Palestinian controlled territory that would become the model for a future Palestinian state. Israel left greenhouses and other structures in place that could have been used by the Palestinians for economic dividends. Instead, the Palestinian folks elected Hamas to lead them in democratic elections in 2007. The potential for a terrorist state on Israel's doorsteps forced Israel to take protective measures leading to the isolation of Gaza from land and sea. Not even the current government in Egypt allows free passage from Gaza to Egypt for fear of terrorism. And while Israel has gradually let in building materials, electricity, and other humanitarian goods to Gaza - Hamas has turned around and used these resources to build an extensive tunnel network below Gaza and into Israel with the aim to kidnap and maim innocent Israeli citizens. So instead of being pro-Palestinian and helping eradicate Hamas, these protestors are supporting Gaza and in turn Hamas, thus the label pro-Hamas protestors.

At first, the Chicago Police Dept. (CPD) attempted to peacefully disperse the crowd by drowning out the pro-Hamas chants with their police sirens. When that did not work, the CPD made the choice of vocally kicking out the pro-Peace, pro-Israel supporters without doing the same across the street. Of course when faced with this disparity, many pro-Israel supporters stood their ground only to be threatened and harassed by several members of the CPD. For my part, I politely asked one officer why they were choosing to focus on the pro-Israel crowd and his response was that if we left, they would have no one to yell at. I did not agree, but I reasonable began to move along as requested. Along the way, I saw a few police in the face of some Israel supporters. They were threatening arrest, so I intervened and asked the pro-Israel supporters to disperse as conflict served no purpose but to sully our image. Immediately, a black policeman got in my face and screamed, "you fuckers won't even come down to the south side. 86 fuckin people were shot there...but you don't care." I respectfully responded by saying that I was just trying to help out and I moved along.

I'll admit, the confrontation made me angry and so while walking away I did some shouting at the police that continued to harass the pro-Israel crowd while leaving the other side alone. I also did some shouting at the pro-Hamasniks that were cowardly wearing masks and kafiyahs (Scarves) over their faces as if they were terrorists themselves, or simply just ashamed to be supporting terrorists. Needless to say, the positive thoughts I had about the safe crowd control were squashed by the tragically one-sided behavior by the CPD.

Apparently, I was caught on camera by several news outlets (Trib and ABC to my knowledge) that have broadcast my angry image on tv. I am proud to have been a part of the 1500 estimated Israel supporters, but I am a bit upset that my anger was caught so prominently. Don't get me wrong - I am not ashamed to stand up for Israel. But anger does not really serve much purpose. If you saw it, on ABC I was arguing with the cop about focusing on the pro-Israel crowd and not the other side. In any case, it was a tragic ending to a day where I was proud to stand with my Israeli friends and families in their time of need.

If you have lasted this long...thanks for reading. May G-d bless the USA, bless Israel, and bring home our brave IDF soldiers safely home soon.