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Thousands Attend Israel Inspires Rally
October 10, 2003Comments (0) | Add | E-mail this to a friend  Quoting Lincoln, New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey began the Israel Inspires Rally saying, "All that is necessary for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing. Today, we are here to do something."
More than 5,000 people from across the United States and Canada attended the rally, which was sponsored by Rutgers Hillel, Chabad and Students United for Israel. In addition to McGreevey, officials included Sens. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Jon Corzine (D-NJ); Representatives Steven Rothman (D-NJ), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Rush Holt (D-NJ) and Artur Davis (D-AL); State Sen. Joseph Kyrillos (R); Assemblyman Upendra Chivukula (D); Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services Clifton Lacy and Israel Consul for Media and Public Affairs Ido Aharoni.
Rep. Davis, one of the best-received speakers at the rally, talked about his experience as an African-American congressman from the Birmingham, Ala. "The South would not be what it is today had the Jewish community not linked arms for civil rights," he said. "Anytime there are people who are gathered for that which is right in this world, I am happy to lend my voice."
According to Rutgers Hillel student president and Israel Inspires founder Stephanie Schwartz, "Israel Inspires has changed the atmosphere of the campus to one of excitement."
The speakers went to great lengths to thank the students and organizers of the rally. "I want to pay special tribute to the students who organized the event. All who question the commitment of young people ought to be at Rutgers tonight," Davis said. Corzine added, "I want to thank all those who put this together — Rutgers Hillel."
Despite earlier concerns about counter-protests, only a small anti-Israel presence materialized. Rebecca Leibowtiz, Rutgers Hillel's Grinspoon Israel Advocacy Intern remarked, "Our whole campaign was to put Israel in a good light, and now they [Israel's detractors] have to respond to us instead of vice-versa."
The Israel Inspires campaign continued with an Israel block party on the Rutgers University campus on Friday. Students gathered to listen to three bands, enjoy Israeli food and more. More than 600 students from mroe than 20 schools ranging from UCLA and Washington University in St. Louis to McGill and Concordia Universities in Montreal, will participate in the Israel Inspires Weekend, featuring forums, workshops and celebrations. The weekend began on Friday, October 10. The Israel Inspires weekend will host leading experts on the Middle East, including American Jewish Committee Executive Director David Harris, Jerusalem Post Publisher/Editor Tom Rose, former Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Fereydoun Hoveyda, and Hadassah International President June Walker.
Complete details on Israel Inspires events can be found at www.israelinspires.org
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