ZOA Florida held a “Stand With Israel Rally” on Wednesday, May 19 at The Waterways in Aventura. A crowd of over 700 men, women, and children joined together in an enthusiastic display of solidarity with the Jewish State under siege. Many carried flags and held placards, banners, and posters. Sharona Whisler, Florida region executive director of ZOA, put together the impressive program.
Speakers included: Rabbi Pearlson, Temple Menorah in Miami Beach; Rabbi Weinstock, Young Israel of Hollywood; the Honorable Revital Malca, Acting Consul General of Israel in Miami; Pastor Mario Bramnick, president of the Latino Coalition for Israel; Gabe Groisman, mayor of Bal Harbour; Congressman Ted Deutch; Rabbi Shlomo Sprung, Scheck Hillel Community School; and Josh Levy, mayor of Hollywood.
Recordings and audio statements from various government officials and organizations were played for the crowd. Rabbi Fein, head of school of Brauser Maimonides Academy, led a prayer for the State of Israel and for the IDF.
“We need to show our brothers and sisters in Israel who are being attacked that we are standing with them,” Whisler told the crowd. “We can’t be there physically. They are on the front lines fighting a war against evil and hate and terror, not just for themselves, but for our safety here.”
She continued, “They are the ones on the front lines, but we can be here fighting the other war, against the outrageous lies that are being spewed in the media and social media, and give Israel our strength! And that it is what you are all doing here today, so wave your flags high and wave them proudly because you are on the right side, you are on the side of Israel, you are on the side of Zionism, you are on the side of good and good will prevail! Israel uses its missiles to protect its people and Hamas uses its people to protect its missiles. That is an enemy that must be defeated!”
Whisler urged rally participants to contact their members of Congress and call on them to support Israel. Email swhisler@zoa.org for further information on ZOA Florida region.
Florida region executive director of ZOA Sharona Whisler addresses the “Stand with Israel Rally.”
This article was 0riginally published in the Jewish Press on May 28, 2021 and can be found here.