SAN DIEGO (Press Release) – In the face of thousands of victims slaughtered and wounded by the hands of Hamas, Jewish Federation of San Diego demonstrated Tuesday, October 10 that San Diego’s support for Israel remains unshakable, staging a solidarity gathering that drew more than 4,500 of backers from across the region.
Community Jewish leaders, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, Deputy Consul General of Israel Amit Mekel, and other civic and religious leaders addressed the gathering, which was held at the Lawrence Family JCC, JACOBS FAMILY CAMPUS. They made clear that while Hamas terrorists succeeded in murdering, wounding and abducting so many innocents, they failed to break Jewish resolve.
“We are grieving now and will be for some time. It will take days to safely recover the bodies of those who lost their lives, so this grieving will not happen according to the timeline Jews are used to. It will be more protracted, more intense. And we will not know the fate of those taken by Hamas for some time. Again, we are in a state of limbo; of hope balanced against agonizing fear. But if the people of [our sister region] Sha’ar HaNegev are nothing else, they are unendingly, astonishingly resilient. Their community will be forever changed, but it will be there. And we need to be there for them. The next 25 years of our partnership starts now,” said Heidi Gantwerk, president and CEO of Jewish Federation of San Diego.
Additional speakers included Betzy Lynch, CEO of Lawrence Family JCC, JACOBS FAMILY CAMPUS; Charlene Seidle, executive vice president of Leichtag Foundation; and Elan Carr, CEO of the Israeli-American Council.
Ba’al Tefillah David Lipsitz of Congregation Beth El and Rabbi Yael Ridberg of Congregation Dor Hadash led the Prayer for Israel in Hebrew and English, respectively; Rabbi Daniel Reich of Congregation Adat Yeshurun led El Maleh Rahamim; a Prayer for IDF was led by Or Amrani of Hillel of San Diego; non-liturgical readings were led by Oz Laniado of Stand With Us; and Cantor Billy Tiep and Rabbi Jason Nevarez of Temple Solel and Congregation Beth Israel led the gathering in Oseh Shalom and Am Yisrael Chai – Chatimah. All speakers also participated in Hatikvah.
The gathering was one of 115 rallies planned for this week to support Israel across North America. Federations are raising money to support victims of terror in Israel while urging elected officials to act in the face of an expected rise in antisemitism, including increased funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which contributes to the safety of Jewish institutions.
Jewish Federation of San Diego has launched its own emergency fundraising effort to support San Diego’s Israeli sister region Sha’ar HaNegev, one of the border communities most impacted by this devastating attack. To make a donation, visit jewishinsandiego.org.
Hamas terrorists infiltrated southern Israel Saturday, October 7, by land, sea and air. As of Thursday, the death toll has surpassed 1,200 (including dozens of babies). Close to 3,000 were injured and approximately 150, including women, children and elderly, were abducted and taken to the Gaza Strip. Their conditions are not known.
For more information or the latest updates, visit jewishinsandiego.org.
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Preceding provided by Jewish Federation of San Diego