Loud calls of “Bring Them Home!” and “Am Yisrael Chai!” rang out along Delmar Boulevard in the University City Loop on Sunday afternoon, Dec. 10, as nearly 700 people gathered for a rally and march in solidarity with Israel. The event was peaceful and was accompanied by a significant police presence. Many marchers carried Israeli flags and signs of support as they headed east from Kingsland Avenue near the U. City Library to Eastgate Avenue.
A small group of pro-Palestinian protestors followed the march on the sidewalk, chanting for peace and demanding a ceasefire. They were nonconfrontational, and their chants were drowned out by the significantly larger group of marchers.
Another lone protestor screamed profanities near the intersection of Kingsland and Delmar where the rally began. Her cries were also muffled by the Israel supporters singing “The National Anthem” led by United Hebrew Congregation Cantor Ron Eichaker.
The timing and location for the rally and march were chosen in part to generate participation from Washington University students, said Karen Rader, director, Israel Center and Initiatives at Jewish Federation of St. Louis.
“Wash U students just finished their finals and we wanted them to be part of the community,” Rader said. “Our goal is to continue to keep the hostages and antisemitism in the forefront and having the community come together.”
Jackie Levey, executive director of WashU Hillel, addressed the crowd and said, “We are seeing an increase in antisemitism around the globe and particularly on college campuses. I am to see we have support from our Washington University students.”
Rabbi Janine Schloss from Temple Emanuel said she was marching for several reasons.
I’m marching to support Israel because it has the right to defend itself, particularly after the Hamas attacks on October 7,” Schloss said. “I’m marching for the hostages—they need a voice. I am marching for peace, because we need to stop the killings and work toward a political solution so that Israel can be safe and Palestinians can have autonomy in their own country as well. And I’m here to speak out against antisemitism and Islamophobia.”
Another marcher was Franziska Nussbaum who said, “This is personal for me. My father was a Holocaust survivor. I am marching today because I believe in Israel’s right to defend itself. We are not against Palestinians, but Hamas is treating its own people as human shields.”
The fate of the hostages was also personal for Aleyet Goldman, who has family in Israel. Thinking about them was emotional for her and, through tears, she said, “I just want them to come home.”
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