We are here today in all of our beautiful diversity, united in our love for Israel.
Reform, Conservative, Orthodox,
Jews and those who love us,
Israelis and Canadians,
Peaceniks, Likudniks, and everyone in between.
Those whose hearts are with those who have been out on the streets of Tel Aviv, joining with the kaplanistim protesting the actions of Israel’s current government since 2023, and those whose hearts are with those who voted for it.
Those who have loved ones huddled in the miklats and ma’amads – the shelters and safe rooms – and those who have loved ones serving in the Israel Defense Forces, weaving a shelter of safety for all of Israel’s inhabitants.
We differ in many ways – we may have different ideas about how to bring home the 50 remaining hostages who have spent an unconscionable 625 days captive in Gaza, we may have different visions of a long term solution to the decades long conflict over our beloved land, we may have different understandings of what our role, here in the Diaspora, is in having a voice in Israel’s future. But most importantly, we share ahavat Yisrael, a deep and abiding love for the State of Israel, the Land of Israel, and the People of Israel.
It is this love that brings us here today, even in the heat, to march proudly, defiantly, and lovingly. Israel needs us – needs our love, our vision, our hope, and yes, even our loving disagreements and our differences. Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel famously said that when he marched for civil rights, his feet were praying. Today, our feet pray. As we march, we pray for peace – not a temporary peace, but a long lasting peace, free of fear of nuclear threat, a long lasting peace that allows Israel, her inhabitants, and all children and innocents everywhere to sleep in safety, to go to work and to school in safety, and to love, learn and grow
Midrash, our Jewish interpretive tradition teaches:
Great is peace, for even in times of war, the hope of peace is undiminished.
Great is peace, for peace is the inheritance of the righteous.
Great is peace, for even heaven needs peace.
If peace is needed in heaven, where neither hatred nor strife is found – how great the need for peace on earth, where hatred and strife abound.
May we soon see peace.
Am Yisrael Chai.