Ozzie Hollander ’26
Despite a chilly day and a light drizzle that left many seats empty, the message at the Jewish Federations of North America’s (JFNA) Unity event on Nov. 10 rang loudly and clearly: The bond of the Jewish people is unbreakable as long as we remain united in solidarity and in support of our homeland, Israel.
The event, billed as “Stand Together: Unity, Strength, Resilience” took place at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., with multiple communities and organizations across the country and Canada sending delegations and representatives to take part in a show of unity, resilience, and a call to action. As Israel faces challenges on the global stage, as Jewish communities rally for justice, and as students on college campuses face antisemitism, the event became a moment to reflect on the strength of Jewish identity and the importance of standing together to shape the future of the Jewish people, both in Israel and in America.
“While the turnout for this event was smaller than the 290,000 attendees at the 2023 rally on the National Mall in D.C., each event had different purposes. Organizers said this event was not meant to be a repeat of the large “March for Israel” rally from the year before, which took place during a time of urgent crisis when Jews from around the world joined together after the brutal attack on Oct. 7th. This year’s event focused on bringing the Jewish community together during the JFNA annual General Assembly. Despite the smaller crowd, organizers said that the main goal of the event was still to promote unity within the community.
Doors opened at noon and the pre-show, which was hosted by social media influencers Montana Tucker and Zach Sage Fox, began at 1:00 p.m. The pre-show included performances by musicians and dancers, as well as speeches by other influencers, activists, politicians, and rabbis, as well as moving words from Israelis who have been affected by the attack on Oct. 7 and the war.
Beyond the speeches and performances, the event highlighted the collective power of the Jewish people as a worldwide community, in their fight for peace and hope for the future. Despite the challenges faced by Israel and Jewish communities worldwide, the Jewish people are united in purpose and identity.
These messages resonated deeply with Shaked Ben Dor, one of the Torah Mitzion Kollel Bachurim at Berman Hebrew Academy. During the pre-show, Ben Dor spoke to a reporter from the Orthodox Union (OU) and shared his thoughts on the nature of the Jewish community. Ben Dor said, “We, as Jews, are all one big family. Although many people in the world don’t know we are united, it’s clear that Americans want to be a part of the Israeli story, and they want to make a difference.”
Many of the speakers addressed the collective responsibility to combat antisemitism. Yuval David, an American actor, filmmaker, and activist, who was raised in both Israel and America, has been a passionate advocate for Israel. David spoke about the significance of these gatherings, emphasizing that they are not merely a commemoration of past struggles, but a call to actively shape the future. David said, “People like you are not leaders of tomorrow; you are leaders of today.” He encouraged the younger generation to take initiative and embrace leadership roles. Reflecting on his advocacy for Jewish identity, he said that there are often misconceptions about what it means to be Jewish. “Too many people think being Jewish isn’t ‘cool’ or ‘great.’ It is up to us to define who we are as Jews.”
Olympic gold medalist in women’s wrestling for the United States, Amit Elor, shared a similar experience, inspiring the crowd with her words about Jewish pride and resilience. She spoke about her experience feeling unwelcome as a female wrestler in American gyms, but said that she was welcomed with open arms by the Israeli wrestling community, which helped shape her own identity as a Jew.
The biggest draw seemed to be the musical performances, including Israeli singer Idan Raichel. As soon as Raichel came on stage, fans rushed to the front, singing along with him and his band and screaming in surprise and joy when he jumped down from the stage to sing right next to the crowd. His song is called “ממעמקים,” which means “From deep depths.” The meaning of the song can be understood through this lyric: “ממעמקים קראתי אלייך בואי אלי מול ירח מאיר את דרכך שוב אלי,” or “From deep depths I called to you to come in front of a moon that lights your way to me again.” This line aligned directly with the message of strength and resilience of the Jewish people.
American musician John Ondrasik of Five for Fighting also performed, playing fan favorites, including “100 Years” and “Superman (It’s Not Easy).” As he played “Superman,” images of Israeli soldiers returning home to their families scrolled on the big screen. Although he is not Jewish, Ondrasik is an outspoken advocate for Israel. Ondrasik performed his new song “OK” with singers from the D.C. and Baltimore chapters of HaZamir, the International Jewish Teen Choir, including Berman Junior, Amy Hollander ’26. His lyrics, “This is a time for choosing / This is a time to mourn / The moral man is losing / Forbidden, lost for long,” ask the world to stand up for Israel and to fight antisemitism because it is a moral issue for all of humanity.
In the end, the JFNA Unity event was not just a reflection of the Jewish identity, but a call to action for the road ahead — one that demands unity, strength, and resilience at every step. Together, we are not just shaping perception; we are shaping the future.
