“I felt that I had to be here to show my solidarity with Israel,” said Rebeka Oren, who grew up in Israel and later immigrated to the United States. “I only wish more people would recognize our plight and our circumstances,” she said regarding Israel’s battle for support in the international community.
Oren was one of an estimated 1,100 people — mostly members of the Jewish community — who participated in last week’s Solidarity Walk for Israel on Yom HaAtzmaut, Israel’s 54th Independence Day, April 17.
Despite the unseasonably high temperatures, this year’s turnout was “the best show of support that I can remember,” said Kipp Friedman, marketing and public relations director for the Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center.
Led by the Israeli Defense Forces Musical Ensemble, marchers left the Karl Jewish Community Campus and wound their way through Whitefish Bay — viewing a small group of anti-Israel protesters on Silver Spring Dr. with signs accusing Israel of genocide and fascism — before returning to the JCC for a Yom HaAtzmaut celebration.
Carrying a large Israeli flag, Haifa-born Eilon Amir said he joined the march to “show my support and to show how unified we are.”
Wanda Jones, a non-denominational Christian, said she came to “protest against the Palestinian suicide bombers.” She added that, “Israel has a right to the land.”
Another Christian Israel supporter, Pauline Lueck, said she participated in the march because “I believe in God’s word to the Jewish people and His love for them. I hope to speak to my church about [supporting] Israel.”
Support for Israel in its hour of need was a common reason given by many for why they participated in the march.
“I am supporting Israel in its time of need — and it’s Israel Independence Day!” said Shuli Rivkin, an eighth grader from Hillel Academy.
Milwaukee Jewish Day School fourth grader Jacob Lindenbaum said, “I would have come [on the march] even if I didn’t come with school.”
Alex Schapira, also a fourth grader at MJDS, chimed in that he came because “I want to help support Israel.” He also mentioned that he wrote two letters to Israeli soldiers during the recent letter writing campaign.
Michael Lotman, who described himself as “just a Jew” originally from Moscow, said he came to “support the cause of Israel.”
Accompanied by his wife Julia and young son Samuel, Lotman said he had “many relatives in Israel” and warned: “We should not trade land. It was given to us from HaShem.”
The walk and the celebration were programs of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation’s Israel Resource Center and the JCC. Major sponsors for the celebration were: Firstar; the Jewish Community Foundation, the endowment development program of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation; Dottie and Mert Rotter; Schuster Metals; and Wellington Properties. In addition, about 30 area synagogues, Jewish organizations, Jewish women’s organizations, civic groups and schools co-sponsored.
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