The Observer Vol. 88 No. 12 – December 2023

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THE

Jewish

OBSERVER Vol. 88 No. 12

www.jewishobservernashville.org

DECEMBER 2023 18 Kislev - 19 Tevet 5784

HAPPY HANUKKAH ‘Let our people go’: Thousands of protesters call on Hamas to release hostages at March for Israel Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville sends 65 members to National Mall By ZOE BELL

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undreds of thousands of people rallied in Washington, D.C. on Nov. 14 to demand the release of the hostages in Gaza, efforts to combat rising antisemitism and continued U.S. congressional and presidential support for Israel. Pro-Israel supporters — including 65 from Nashville — united in response to the estimated 240 hostages taken by Hamas during its Oct. 7 surprise attack on Israel and the Israeli death toll surpassing 1,400. The protest featured multiple guest speakers including actresses, politicians, ambassadors, Israeli president Isaac Herzog and the family members of hostages taken by Hamas. The event was organized by the Jewish Federations of North America and Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. The Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville’s staff arranged for 65 Jewish Nashville community members to fly to D.C. for the demonstration. In attendance were Kirby, CEO Dan Horwitz and Federation staff, rabbis from local synagogues and other community members.

Nashville’s Jewish community sent more than 60 people to the March for Israel rally in Washington, DC.

“I think this is a historic moment, and there’s a lot of confusion about what’s going on, and I think people need to hear loud and clear that there’s no moral equivalence between Hamas and Israel,” Kirby told The Jewish Observer Nashville. “Whatever you may think about the Israeli government and policies, it’s not okay to kidnap people and rape people and murder them and to

Reflections By STEVE HIRSCH

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e were up early that morning; like 3:30 a.m. early. But it was OK because we were taking a trip to visit our family. We check in at BNA at 5:00 a.m. and then stand in a surprisingly long line at TSA for that time of the morning. But again, no complaints because we were excited about seeing our family. Landing at Reagan National Airport to a beautiful Tuesday morning, the 25 of us on the American Airlines flight A Publication of the

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have so many people not be willing to say that is really traumatic for a lot of Jewish people. So it’s important to bring a group here and stand in the face of that.” Ritchie Torres, a representative for New York’s 15th congressional district, spoke in support of Israel, citing key historical moments of terrorism. “Israel has a right to defend itself and America has a duty to stand with Israel in

her struggle for survival and self-defense,” Torres told the crowd. “Israel must do to Hamas what the U.S. did to ISIS and Al-Qaeda in the 21st century. We must do to Hamas what we did to the Nazis in the 20th century. … No one expected the United States to enter into a ceasefire with the Empire of Japan when 2,400 Americans were murdered in Pearl Harbor. No one expected the United States to enter into a ceasefire with Continued on page 7

A Visit with Family

quickly linked up with those who flew in on the Delta flight. Our trip coordinator, Leeron Resnick, directed us to our waiting bus for transport into downtown Washington D.C. We arrive at the Grand Hyatt hotel which will be our staging point for the day’s activities. Hey, where are the kosher meals that were supposed to await us? Oh well, no big deal because, you guessed it, we were here to see our family. Some of the Nashville family, 65 in total on this trip, sprang into action U.S. Attorney’s Office Brings “United Against Hate” Initiative to Nashville, page 2

right away. The dozen or so young people, led by Rabbi Saul Strosberg of Congregation Sherith Israel, and Rabba Daniella Pressner of the Akiva School immediately got organized to attend the youth program at 11:30. Some of us older family members caught our breath before our next move. By now, you realize that this was not any ordinary trip to visit family. We were attending the November 14 Rally for Israel in Washington, D.C. organized by the Jewish Federations of North America Why You Should Pick Up When I Call, page 3

and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. Organized in only a week, this event drew a reported 290,000 people from all over the U.S. and Canada. Following the youth program, the main rally agenda kicked off at 1:00 p.m. Some of the highlights of the program were: • Natan Sharansky, former Chair of the Jewish Agency for Israel and famous Russian refusenik, reminded us of a

Sharing the Reality in Israel, page 9

Continued on page 23 Reflections from the ground in Israel, page 10


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