On the eve of Tisha B'Av, a fast day day that commemorates calamities throughout Jewish history, 150 students from throughout the metropolitan area gathered in front of the United Nations building in New York City to show solidarity with Israel.
The "Jerusalem is Burning" event, sponsored by The Hillels of New York, was put together by a student planning committee. It began with dinner and a speaker at the headquarters of the Anti-Defamation League. The group then marched to the Isaiah Peace Wall, located directly across from the U.N., for a rally where they recited the book of Lamentations by candlelight, a Tisha B'Av tradition. At the end of each chapter, students spoke about Israel's meaning to them.
Holding Israeli flags and Hillel signs saying "Wherever we stand, we stand with Israel," participants also distributed pro-Israel leaflets to passersby.
"The students came from a variety of backgrounds," explains Hillel Associate Vice President Robert Lichtman. "Their participation was a wonderful display of Jewish unity, religious pluralism and solidarity with Israel. I found the event deeply touching."
The rally brought together Hillel students and staff members from the following schools: Barnard College, Baruch College, Brandeis University, Brooklyn College, College of Staten Island, Columbia, Cooper Union, Fordham University, Hofstra, Hunter College, Long Island University, New York University, Stern College, SUNY Binghamton, SUNY Stony Brook, University of Maryland, University of Pennsylvania and the Yeshiva University.ruch College, Brandeis University, Brooklyn College, College of Staten Island, Columbia, Cooper Union, Fordham University, Hofstra, Hunter College, Long Island University, New York University, Stern College, SUNY Binghamton, SUNY Stony Brook, University of Maryland, University of Pennsylvania and the Yeshiva University.