Monmouth County Rallying for the Cause
In the last two week or so, the heart of NJ Jewish community has provided its residents with an opportunity to show support for Israel in the form of prayer vigils and community gatherings throughout Monmouth and Greater Middlesex counties. On October 10th the Chabad of the Shore hosted over 400 people at their facility in Long Branch. A diverse group came out to pay tribute and show support for their Israeli brothers and sisters. The Chabad’s “Monmouth County Unite” event gave residents the space to pray and show support in solidarity with Israel. Rabbis Laibel Schapiro and Yaakov Greenberg led attendees in prayers and streamed a video message from Eli Beer of United Hatzalah, a volunteer-based medical EMS doing life-saving work on the front lines in Israel for which the Chabad event shared a fundraising appeal. The room was filled with elected civic leaders including First Lady Tammy Murphy, Monmouth County Commissioner Director Thomas Arnone, and community leader Jeff Shein among others. Shein and fellow community leader, Claire Boren who is a Holocaust survivor, lit memorial candles. A student member of the Monmouth University Chabad club who is an IDF veteran also shared prayers and remarks. Jewish Federation in the Heart of New Jersey’s Executive Director, Susan Antman, and Director of Community Relations and Israel Engagement, Dan Rozett, spoke about the humanitarian crisis and alarming spike in antisemitism set off by the attack, along with Jewish Federation’s emergency fundraising campaign to aid Israel’s victims of terror. Since the inception of this war, we have witnessed the atrocities through a barrage of images and first-hand witness accounts.
On Sunday, October 8th the Rumson Jewish Center at Congregation B’nai Israel hosted a vigil that was planned after just a few short hours. Over 200 local people gathered in person, as well as more than 100 virtually, to begin the process of building solidarity with Israel and mourn the horrors that at the time were still fresh. Cantor Gabby Clissold of Monmouth Reform Temple adds, “We prayed, we cried, and we braved ourselves for the devastation that we are still experiencing. We pledged ourselves in solidarity to Israel, and all of the people who have lost their loved ones.” Rabbi Sagal of Congregation B’nai Israel and Rabbi Edelman of Monmouth Reform Temple led the emotional service. Later, Pastor Terrence Porter of the Pilgrim Baptist Church offered words of comfort as folks mourned the victims and prayed for the safe return of those still being held as hostages. The service concluded with Jewish Federation in the Heart of New Jersey’s Executive Director, Susan Antman, and Director of Community Relations and Israel Engagement, Dan Rozett, sharing information about the attack in Israel, the needs the crisis created, and Jewish Federation’s emergency humanitarian aid response imitative already underway as well as how community members can support the people of Israel through Federation.
How you can Help
If you want to support Israel please consider the following organizations:
https://secure.afmda.org/site/Donation2?df_id=2000&2000.donation=form1&s_src=GNRLWEB&FURL=UR (10)
Jewish Federation in the Heart of New Jesey’s Israel Emergency Fund: jewishheartnj.org/give-israel
For information on the Middlesex area rallies please visit https://www.jlifenj.com/jewish-community-unites-behind-israel-with-donations-and-prayers/
