The Kansas City Jewish community was well represented in Washington D.C. last week, with more than 50 people traveling to the nation’s capital to support and be part of the 290,000 people-strong March for Israel at the National Mall.
“To show up in this moment and have our voice; it’s nothing like I’ve ever experienced before,” said Jay Lewis, president and CEO of Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City.
The rally, which was also billed as a March to Free Hostages and a March Against Antisemitism, showed the power and strength of the U.S. Jewish community.
“We came together like no other people can and stood for good values,” said Mike Berenbom, a Menorah Heritage Foundation board member. “Every Jew from every walk of life was represented.”
Israeli President Isaac Herzog, one of the featured speakers, called the Jewish people “a family, one big mishpachah.”
That family extended back to Kansas City and all across the United States, as dozens gathered at the Jewish Community Campus in Overland Park, and tens of thousands nationwide, to tune in to a livestream of the rally. The livestream was viewed by 250,000 people, according to the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, a co-organizer of the rally along with The Jewish Federations of North America.
The Kansas City group in Washington included Israelis, high school and college students (students represented both KU Hillel and KU Chabad), various community members, and the professional and lay leadership of congregations and prominent community organizations — including Jewish Federation, The J, Jewish Community Relations Bureau|AJC, Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy (HBHA), Menorah Heritage Foundation and Jewish Family Services (JFS).
During their visit, the group encountered former Kansas Citians now living in the Washington, D.C. metro area and other cities, as well as no fewer than five siblings of Kansas City community leaders who were there representing other communities.
Many of those from Kansas City who attended the rally expressed sentiments of gratitude, unity and a true feeling of community.
“It was a magical day; I’m proud to be part of our community,” said Moshit Snir, a Kesher KC social worker at JFS.
“It’s helpful to be around people who understand the love and the support that our community wants to share,” said Jewish Federation vice chair Amanda Palan.
“We were very happy we made it,” added retired longtime HBHA faculty member Netta Krashin.
Speaker highlights included Deborah Lipstadt, the U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism; Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer; House Speaker Mike Johnson; as well as parents and relatives of hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza, including Rachel Goldberg, mother of hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin.
The Biden administration “stands shoulder to shoulder against Jew-hatred,” Lipstadt said.
“The survival of the State of Israel and her people unites us together, and it unites all Americans,” Johnson said.
Many times throughout the three-hour program of speakers and prayers, much of the crowd could be heard chanting “Bring them home!” as people held signs with information about the hostages kidnapped on Oct. 7 and still held by Hamas.
“We sang and cried,” said Civia White, director of youth and family education at Congregation Beth Shalom. “It was such a great feeling to be there.”
Pictured are some of the Jewish Kansas Citians who went to Washington, D.C. for the March for Israel. They arrived at the Kansas City International Airport for a 6 a.m. flight on Nov. 14.
Sondra Friedman, Beth Liss, Amanda Palan and Jay Lewis at Reagan National Airport in Washington D.C. Liss is the chair of the Jewish Federation board; Friedman and Palan are officers. Lewis is president and CEO of Jewish Federation.
Michal Luger (teacher), Isaac Gortenburg (alumnus) and Leah Nash (teacher) represent Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy at the March for Israel in Washington, D.C.
Derek Gale, Sondra Friedman, Victor Wishna, Amanda Palan, Beth Liss, Jay Lewis, Andi Milens and Barry Kaseff at the March for Israel in Washington.
Community members and Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy students watched the livestream of the March for Israel on a large new screen at the Jewish Community Campus.
