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Large Prayer Rally Shows Local Solidarity With Israel

West Coast Chabad Lubavitch

Los Angeles, CA – Summoning all the hopeful energy of youth, hundreds of Southern California children prayed today for the security of the Israeli people at a solidarity rally organized by West Coast Chabad. The gathering at Los Angeles’ Rabbi Schneerson Square brought over a thousand adults and children together to demonstrate their support for Israel as it copes with terrorist kidnappings of soldiers and rocket attacks on civilians.

“Today, we are guided by our spiritual leader — the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson — who in past times of strife called on us to pray and display our solidarity with Israel,” said Rabbi Boruch S. Cunin, Director of West Coast Chabad. “Whenever the Jewish people are threatened, our special weapon is the prayers of our beautiful children, who now cry to the Almighty for the safety of our brothers and sisters in the Holy Land.”

Young people from Chabad’s Bais Sonya Gutte educational campus were joined by busloads of enthusiastic campers from Chabad’s Camp Gan Israel network. The camps represented included CGI of the Valley, S. Monica, Brentwood, Los Angeles and Beverly Hills, and the children waved handmade signs with phrases like “Stop Terror,” and “USA – Israel: United We Stand.” Many in the crowd also held up placards encouraging special mitzvahs, like “Light Shabbat Candles for Israel,” and “Put on Tefillin to Protect Israel.”

With extensive coverage from the TV news media, event participants sent a clear message of support for Israel and showed their desire for the return of the kidnapped Israeli troops and the end of the terrorist threat. LA City Councilman Jack Weiss, who helped Chabad coordinate the event with local police, thanked the crowd and drew a strong response as he reiterated the City’s support for America’s only democratic ally in the Middle East.

Rabbi Mayer Greene of Chabad of Tarzana told the children, “Your mission is to reach your voices up to Hashem as we pray for the safety and security of all of the Jewish people.” Rabbi Ezra Schochet, the renowned Torah scholar who serves as Director of the Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad, reminded his audience that in times of strife, each person counts and “each good deed can make a positive impact when we want peace upon the land.” Rabbi Shimon Raichik from Chabad of Hancock Park also offered words of inspiration and encouragement for the crowd, which at the end of the rally exuberantly sang, “I’m a Jew and I’m proud.”

“We are all here together as children of G-d to appeal to Him to watch over us and to push away the darkness in the Holy Land of Israel,” said Rabbi Cunin. “And our hearts go out to all of the innocents, wherever they may be, who are caught up in this tragedy.”

The rally took place on Pico Boulevard at Rabbi Schneerson Square, home of Chabad’s Bais Sonya Gutte campus, which was dedicated on March 28, 2004 in honor of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Another Israel solidarity event — which will be joined by Chabad and all major Jewish organizations — is scheduled for Sunday, July 23 at the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles’ offices at 6505 Wilshire Boulevard

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13 Comments

  • California Counselor

    B"H
    It was a truly beautiful Achdusdik event… major Yesher Koach to Rabbi Green and all the West Coast R’s who put it all together!

  • Previous California Counselor

    Wow, Rabbi Greene, you did it again! Keep it up! We miss California and Chabad of Tarzana!
    Best Wishes,
    A previous counselor at your camp

  • FreddyN in NY

    Proud to see you, Rabbi Greene! And Ari too! I am sure it was a big Kiddush Hashem!

  • it not jewish

    chabad of brentwood your t-shirts stick out keep up the gr-8 work go menachem mendy hecht

  • eli golsobel

    Discraceful that there were israeli flags at this amazing event. Even more disgusting is that a lubavitcher bochur, who learns in tomchei tmimim dared hold up the sign. From what I know, one boy was asked nicely by some of his friends to put down the sign, which he refused to do. He went as far as to mock them for their "over-religiosity"…
    Go figure!

  • dan lecaf zechus

    Its A solidarity rally for "israel" of course theres gona be "israeli" flags there…. and in case you didnt know, the israeli flag represents a talis with a mogen david on it, its a great way to encourge the kids to wear there tzitis, by explainig to them that there doing it IN SUPPORT OF ISRAEL!!!

  • goldsobel dont judge!!!

    you did not see the top of the sign "united we stand"

    so dont judge from a pictuer…goldsobel!!!

  • to eli goldsobel

    americans are not with israel????

    this has nothing to do with zionisim!!! it has to do with suport!!!