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Local Jews rally to show support

Some of the area's most prominent Jewish leaders join Congregation Schaarai Zedek members for a solidarity rally.

By REBECCA CATALANELLO
Published July 21, 2006

[Times photo: Daniel Wallace]

Steven Specter, right, and Cantor Moshe Friedler stand for the American national anthem during the "Solidarity Rally for Israel" at Congregation Schaarai Zedek in Tampa. Go to audio from rally

TAMPA - The scent of burning powder and sounds of exploding rockets were still fresh in his memory as Rabbi Richard Birnholz rallied about 500 people to continue supporting Israel with prayers, money and activism.

Birnholz, who returned Thursday from a 10-day trip to Israel with 45 members of Congregation Schaarai Zedek, issued a stirring speech to a room packed with congregants, supporters and some of Tampa Bay's most prominent Jewish leaders.

Thursday's "Solidarity Rally for Israel" offered the area's Jewish community an opportunity to come together, sing the Israeli national anthem and wave American and Israeli flags in support of the nation, which is fighting Palestinians along one border and Lebanese paramilitary forces on another.

Two Israeli soldiers were kidnapped by Hezbollah militants last week, and Palestinians took an Israeli soldier from his post before that.

The Israelis responded with military force, and the region has been swept up in an escalating conflict that has left more than 300 dead and thousands on both sides of the battle lines seeking shelter.

Birnholz said that while he was shaken by the experience of being in the country at a time of crisis, he was proud of the nation's response against the Lebanese adversaries and discounted critics who say Israel is overreacting.

"Shame on the countries who speak about proportionate response, as if the Middle East conflict is some kind of gentleman's game," Birnholz said of Israel's conflict with Hezbollah militants. "There is no such thing as proportional in the Middle East and the terrorists are to be thanked for that reality as well."

Security at Congregation Schaarai Zedek was heavier than usual, attendees said. Several Tampa police cruisers were parked outside, and an officers at the entrance searched people's purses as they entered.

Little girls handed out miniature American and Israeli flags. And some adults sported T-shirts with messages of support for Israel: "Israel will prevail," "Israel Defense Forces," and "America, Don't Worry, Israel is Behind Us."

Seventeen-year-old Evan Wiskup, a senior at Berkeley Preparatory School, was among those on the trip to Israel with Birnholz. He said that he was impressed by how the Jews who live there handled the conflict with ease - going about their lives, he said, as if nothing were wrong.

"The sense of patriotism is unlike anything I've ever seen," he said. "The Israel people are there to stay no matter who the opposition is."

[Last modified July 21, 2006, 06:39:06]