Aiming to make a difference in the world

Showing support for the expanding movement to pressure lawmakers to create stricter gun legislation after the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., on Feb. 14, Temple Israel of Lawrence members and the South Shore chapter of Indivisible attended the “March For Our Lives” rally on the campus of Farmingdale State College on March 24.

“I thought it was important to voice our opposition to the gun violence in this country and show my children the importance of raising your voice and being engaged in the process to try to effect meaningful change,” said Jordan Rosenbaum, a Temple Israel member and son of Rabbi Jay Rosenbaum, the synagogue’s spiritual leader.

Along with the rally in Washington, D.C., headlined by students who survived the Parkland shooting where 17 students and adults were murdered, and others across the country, there were 10 such events on Long Island, including a moderately attended one in Andrew J. Parise Cedarhurst Park in Cedarhurst.

“We are very concerned about protecting our children in school and excited by the tremendous energy generated by the young people, who are getting the word out and taking the lead in this bipartisan movement to enact sensible gun legislation to protect our children,” said Julie Pareles, a Hewlett resident and founding member of South Shore Indivisible, who went to the Cedarhurst, Farmingdale and Long Beach rallies.

Indivisible focuses on helping citizens become more involved at a grassroots level to affect the change they want to see at all government levels Indivisible chapters sprung up shortly after the election of Donald Trump as president.

Rabbi Rosenbaum said he organized the temple’s trip to the Farmingdale rally because “the purpose of ritual and prayer is to move people to action.” “I believe rallies such as this with the pressure keeping up will lead to change in gun control,” he said. The Friday after the shooting at the Florida high school, Rosenbaum led a memorial service at Temple Israel.

Despite the youthfulness of Jordan Rosenbaum’s sons, he said that both children were affected by the recent gun violence and were “very moved” by the speeches from the teenagers who spoke at the Farmingdale rally. “I don’t think fear has an age associated with it,” Jordan said. “Attending the rally was an important step for my children to take back their childhood, and for demanding meaningful action by our political leaders to stem the gun violence that has permeated throughout our society.”

Mental health experts note that young people who see their peers or teachers being shot results in trauma. Something as routine as a book falling on the floor causes them to be afraid.

“This is heartfelt,” Pareles said, about the young people speaking out on the need for improved gun legislation. “This is not a Republican or Democrat issue; it’s about saving children and protecting everyone. In the 1960s, there was a transformation and the kids today are taking control of this issue.”

Rabbi Rosenbaum also harkened back to the ’60s, saying that this movement is the younger generation’s Vietnam. “Just as during the Vietnam War, when the voices of reason, of concern, of justice would not be silent, so too, as it pertain to gun control, we will persevere.”

Have an opinion the rallies or gun legislation topic? Send your letter to the editor to jbessen@liherald.com.