‘Stand Together’ Rally Serves as Call for Unity
Standing Strong: Atlanta joins thousands in solidarity with Israel, American values, and Jewish unity.
The Stand Together rally, held just days after a divisive, heated presidential election, brought Jewish Americans — and their allies — together in a world swirling with division, fear and antisemitism. These brave participants declared an unwavering support for Israel, the Jewish people, and American values. Locally, the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta and the Atlanta Israel Coalition partnered to take the lead for this much needed event.
The rally, a poignant show of strength, raised a troubling question: Was this show of solidarity adequate? The turnout was inspiring, yet it revealed the need for more — more voices, more action, more courage. The stakes are too high for complacency. Each individual bears a responsibility to contribute at this time.
The rally didn’t happen in a vacuum. Americans have just come through a bruising election cycle and were forced out of their comfort zones. It was exhausting, but also necessary. It’s essential that Jews hold true to values – honoring democracy and protecting all communities in what has become a fragmented social fabric.
As Americans, as people with a moral compass, as members of the Jewish community, division is jeopardizing the future for Jews and emboldening enemies. Ignoring the petty squabbles and partisan divide, Jews can come together and make effective changes for the betterment of our people and the world. What else is tikkun olam, anyway?
The Stand Together rally emerged as a clarion call for unity — at a moment it is needed most. And it wasn’t just Jews who showed up. Allies from all walks of life answered the call.
Some took great professional risks to show support, such as New York Congressman Richie Torres, who was the recipient of a well-earned award at the event. In his remarks, Torres said, “To the next generation of Jewish leaders, I tell them in an age of amplified antisemitism: Be proud of who you are. Take pride in your Judaism and Zionism. Live not in shame, but in pride. Live not in fear, but in freedom — because where there is fear there can never be freedom … We stand together, and America stands with Israel.”
If one doubts for a moment that this current age is one of amplified antisemitism, simply look at the recent pogroms in the Netherlands and Greece or the attacks here at home — such as the recent horrors in New York and Chicago. The anniversary of Kristallnacht should pass without echoes of the past glaring at us from the front pages of contemporary newspapers.
For those who wondered what it would have been like to stand against the antisemitic vitriol of the Nazis and their regime of terror, wonder no more. Some stand with us. Others remain silent–even when silence is complicity.
Anti-Zionism, that thin veneer masking antisemitism, is frequently framed as a mere political critique, which carries dangerous consequences for Jewish communities here at home and around the world. Rally participants were well aware of this reality and stood resolute in their commitment to counter these influences. This should be a reminder to all — we cannot afford to count on the silent majority any longer. If we don’t act, no one will.
Actress Tiffany Haddish captured perfectly this in her words at the event, declaring, “Unity isn’t about agreeing on everything, it’s about standing together when it matters. And now, it matters most. The families still waiting for their loved ones to come home—they remind us what real courage looks like. And they show us why unity, in this moment, is not just important, it’s essential.”
comments