A rally in support of Israel drew about 500 people on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 15. The event was held on Schuetz Road near the Jewish Federation building.
As St. Louisans held up Israeli flags and signs, cars drove by honking to show their support. The rally was organized in just a few days by Kalanit Chappell, Traci Goldstein, Orna Bitton Dar, Angie Rosenberg and Galit Lev-Harir (who has been in Israel since the Hamas attack).
According to Dar, “We decided last week we had to do something. There was a need for the community to do this and we got the help of the Federation.”
All photos by Bill Motchan.
Beth Fitzmaurice was at the rally. Beth is not Jewish, but she came to the rally to show support for Israel and the Jewish community.
“I can’t believe I’m witnessing antisemitism going on around the globe. I’m appalled, I’m disgusted. I feel like schools have failed our children. They should be learning about the Holocaust at a very young age and they’re not,” said Fitzmaurice. “In my generation, we learned about it and it was so frightening, the thought of people being hunted. I can’t believe what is happening now in Israel. These are our brothers and sisters. I’m here because I want to support Israel and the Jewish community.”
