By Yakov Nayerman
LA JOLLA, California — When my wife told me Sunday about a pro-Israel solidarity rally at UCSD, my immediate reaction was: yes, we’re going! Every time I saw news about anti-Israel, pro-Palestinian demonstrations and encampments on campuses across the country, I felt ashamed of my inactivity. As Martin Luther King Jr. said, “He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it.”
This rally was very different from previous ones, as this time we physically confronted our opponents by walking along the lines of the pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel protesters who had posters, banners, and yes, were wearing those black and white keffiyehs.
We were instructed not to interact with them, but I felt an urge to ask some of the poster holders for explanations. Not to pick a fight, but to understand what they meant or to confirm my suspicion that they didn’t fully grasp what they were saying. For example, I would have liked to discuss with a lady holding a sign that read: “Proud to be a Jew. Proud to be anti-Zionist.” What did she mean? As anti-Zionism literally means the dismantling of our Jewish state, how could it coexist with being a “proud Jew”?
Overall, the rally was very peaceful thanks to the presence of police. Many of us walking along thanked the policemen, and the officers definitely appreciated these signs of appreciation.
I was very impressed by the wide spectrum of participants: Jews, Christians, of all age groups, literally from 8 to 80. You could hear many languages being spoken: English, Hebrew, Spanish, Russian, Ukrainian.
At the end, I saw a guy with a big camera (I think he was from Channel 10). He asked: “What brought you here?” Then he left, but I found the question to be really important, and I asked several of my friends to answer it. Here are some of the responses:
– “I wanted to feel part of the community, with like-minded people.”
– “I wanted to show Jewish students at UCSD that they are not alone and have a strong support system.”
– “I may be too old to join the army, but the front line between good and evil today lies in Ukraine, Taiwan, Gaza, and in the minds of people. So, I want to participate at least in this one.”
– “This rally reassured me that there is a future for my Jewish children and grandchildren in this country.”
Overall sentiments and discussions during the rally were articulated by Mayor Bill Wells in his brief address. He affirmed that the majority of the Christian community, as well as most Americans, stand in solidarity with us. He emphasized that those who oppose Israel are not only acting against the Jewish fate but also against freedom and democracy. It was so much needed to hear such support from a non-Jewish perspective. Thank you, Mayor Wells!
Several months ago, I attended the Off-Broadway premiere of the play Amid Falling Walls, based on the compilation book by Shmerke Kaczerginski, Songs of the Ghettos and Camps. At the end of the performance, the concluding anthem was sung, which was the signature of all productions in the Warsaw Ghetto Theater (which had its own theater!) called “Mir Leibn Eibik” (“We Live Forever”). There are words in it that fully apply to today’s situation:
“Our life is eternal, though the world is on fire,
Our life is eternal in spite of war.”
Amen!
Yakov Nayerman immigrated from the Soviet Union to the United States about 35 years ago, and retired from a three-decade long career with Solar Turbines.
Thank you, Yakov for your observation of the event! Yes, united and supported by our Christian friends, we don’t feel alone. We will not be silenced and defeated.
Am Israel chai!
Just saw the comment. Thank you very much!
This is a great review of the event. Unfortunately I missed it but Yakov Nayerman gave the full picture of the event. Huge thanks for supporting Israel and being and active member of our Jewish family in San Diego. AM YISRAEL CHAI!!!
Thank you, dear Katherine, a lot!
Each of us is trying to do whatever we can!
It is shameful these encampments continue to tarnish the reputations of our universities and embolden these violent so called protestors with their terror camps and repeated calls for genocide of Jewish and Israeli students and faculty.