By MARSHA S. ANDER
A crowd much smaller than anticipated - about 250 people - rallied for strengthened international, political and economic support for Israel.
The event, co-sponsored by the Five Towns Jewish Council and the Five Towns Jewish Community Center, was part of the groups' array of educational and social programming celebrating Israel's 60th anniversary as a nation.
Citizens of all ages waved Israeli flags, and some even tucked them into their dogs' collars. As the forecast clouds parted, speakers took seats beneath a gazebo emblazoned with a banner reading "I saved a gallon" and urging Americans to "No longer fund Iran and oil supported enemies."
Politicians from all points on the ideological spectrum sat in solidarity, showing their support for the country some described as America's only true ally in the Middle East.
The invited guests included U.S. Reps.
Carolyn McCarthy (D-Mineola) and Peter King (R-Seaford), state Sen. Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre), Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg (D-Long Beach), Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi, county Legislator Jeff Toback (D-Oceanside) and Consul for Israeli Public Affairs Sharon Regev, among others.
Congregation Sons of Israel Rabbi Bruce Ginsberg urged the crowd to send a message to the world. His chant "Stop Hamas now" was cheered and repeated by supporters who agreed that Israel's 2005 land-for-peace policy had failed. Ginsberg explained that the missiles still raining down on Sderot, Israel, are evidence that "Palestinians are more interested in destroying the Jewish state than building one of their own."
Ginsberg also warned that Iran is continuing its quest to build a nuclear weapon. "They have made their objective painfully clear," he said. "They intend to wipe out the Jewish state." The Woodmere rabbi cautioned listeners that although American politicians have threatened Iran with strong retaliation for any attack on Israel, the situation needs more immediate action. "Stop Iran now," he encouraged the crowd to chant. And they did.
The politicians kept their remarks short, while making it clear that they backed Israeli military decisions to aggressively defend its borders. Regev, representing Israel's consulate general, said that despite the threats to its security by many neighboring countries, Israel is a nation united. "There are many who have tried to keep us from reaching this milestone," she said, "and on this occasion we want to say to them we have returned to our home and we are here to stay."
Israel, Regev said, is currently second only to the U.S. in trading volume on NASDAQ. "We have a strong economy - one of the strongest in the world," she said, "and I would like to take the opportunity to make it even stronger. Buy Israeli products."
Suozzi echoed Regev's sentiments, lauding Israel's accomplishments over the past 60 years. "To think of how much has been accomplished in Israel in the midst of people trying to destroy them throughout their entire 60-year history," he said, "is really just remarkable."
Weisenberg, speaking before the rally, said that the U.S. must give its full support to Israel, since, in his opinion, it is the front line in the war against terror. "If we don't support Israel today and make sure they are solvent," Weisenberg said, "then New York City will be the front lines in the future."
Weisenberg said he believed that in this presidential election year, the candidates must take a clear stand on our policy toward Israel. He supports Hillary Clinton, he explained, because "She has a defined position to stand up against Iran and Syria, which are really providing resources that are destroying or trying to destroy Israel - and we'll be next."
One rally attendee, 89-year-old Debbie Moscovitz of Lawrence, cheered from her beach chair with enthusiasm. As a Jewish woman, Moscovitz said, she is concerned about the survival of her homeland. "After the Holocaust, there was no place for us to go and God promised us this land," she said. "It's in our Torah."
She was seated next to Estelle Dorf, a Woodmere resident for 40 years who recently returned from the Middle East, having celebrated Passover in Jerusalem. Dorf said she was captivated by the country's growth since she last visited Israel a decade ago, and described Israel's citizens as prosperous, cosmopolitan and innovative people.
McCarthy, one of the featured speakers, urged academics and business people to visit Israel in order to learn from what the country has accomplished. She told listeners that Israel should be free of international constraints while defending itself. "We have to remember that Israel is a democracy, and Israel has to make the decisions on what's best for Israel on their security," McCarthy said, drawing applause from the crowd.
She urged people to contact their local representatives and send a message that Israel's security is something they care about. "Things start at a grassroots level," McCarthy said. "What happens in Israel is going to affect the United States." She ended her short speech by saying, "Together we stand, divided we will fall - and failure is not an option."
King, ranking member of the Congressional Committee on Homeland Security, told the crowd that the U.S. must always rally to Israel's aid. "If for no other reason than the very selfish, pragmatic reason that they are our strongest ally in the most dangerous part of the world, which is where Islamic terrorism is from in the Middle East," King said.
Dr. Norman Amer and his wife, Jo, who chair the Israel 60th project for the Five Towns Community Council, were disappointed by the relatively small turnout, but pleased that the event prompted politicians to promise to create a congressional resolution encouraging fuel conservation in order to reduce America's dependence on Middle Eastern oil.
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