On Monday, Oct. 9, 2023, more than 4,500 people gathered in Boston Common in a strong demonstration of allyship and solidarity with Israel under fire. The gathering was co-sponsored with Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), Israeli American Council (IAC), and many other community organizations. These remarks were shared at the event.

Thank you, Governor Healey, and thank you all for being here today.
Almost five years ago, we gathered here in the wake of the worst massacre of Jews ever on American soil. Here we are again, in the wake of another massacre—a brutal and violent assault on innocent human life—this time on the soil of our Jewish homeland, this time of proportions that we can barely begin to fathom.

I am angry and appalled at these barbaric attacks on mothers, grandmothers, little children. It is reminiscent of the darkest moments of our Jewish and human history.

I am also heartbroken and grieving—together with our Israeli family and Jewish people around the world. This is not just a crisis that is happening over there. This is personal. It touches all of us. To the Israelis here in Boston, we are here for you and with you.

My wife and I woke up this past Shabbat morning to texts from our 19-year-old daughter who is living in Israel this year and had spent the night in a bomb shelter. She is scared, but when I asked her if she wanted to fly home, she said, “Abba, where can my friends here go? This is their home.” She spent yesterday packing boxes of supplies for victims and their families.

Because when our friends and family are suffering, that is what we do—we show up and do anything we can.

That’s what we’re doing here today and will continue to do in the days and weeks to come.

First, we grieve. Together with Israel we feel sadness, pain, and loss; and we pray—for the safety and wellbeing of the victims, their families, and for the safe return of the captives who are in a living hell right now. We grieve and we pray, together.

Second, we unite—in clarity and solidarity—with Israel and here in our own community. Those who seek to destroy us also seek to divide us. We will defeat them when we stand together. We raise our voices to declare—without any equivocation: We condemn terror and hate; we condemn the demonization of Israel and dehumanization of Israelis; this is a war of defense, and, as President Biden said clearly: “Israel has the right to defend itself and its people. Full stop.”

Now is the time to put our shared values and mutual responsibility for one another and Israel ahead of the things that might divide us. To our friends and allies and the leaders here with us today, your love, support, and knowing that you stand with us, as we stand with you—means so much. We need you, and Israel needs you with us in this fight for our dignity and our lives.

We grieve together, we stand together, and third, we take action, together. We have showed up here today, and we’re going to need to keep showing up, standing up, and supporting Israel in the days ahead. Our Israel Emergency Fund will ensure 100% of the dollars we raise get directly to the most critical needs in Israel. In less than 48 hours, over 600 people have made gifts and we have raised nearly $500,000, and we hope to double that by the end of the day. Please give if you are able.

I believe in the strength, spirit, and resilience of Israel and the Jewish people, and our Greater Boston community. Our strength comes from our sense of unity and responsibility for one another, and our willingness to protect and defend our values and our future. That’s what we’re doing here today and that’s what we will continue to do, together.

Thank you.