Reflections on the March for Israel in Washington D.C.

Hastily planned out of painful necessity, the March for Israel was, simply put, amazing. The logistics were daunting: Planning was fast and furious, rumors swirling, updates forwarded across WhatsApp groups, angst bubbling about wristbands, and the list goes on. And yet. Nearly 300,000 Jews from across the religious and political spectrum converged on Washington, DC’s National Mall November 14 to proclaim our most basic and primal cry as a nation: Am Yisrael Chai. 

We arrived as a group with one purpose: To raise our voices and show up for our people. We made our way to the gates (with the wristbands — don’t worry!) and then to the stage. We wore our “Shalhevet Stands with Israel” sweatshirts with pride, representing our families, friends and colleagues in L.A. as we blended into the beautiful blue-and-white sea of schools, shuls and communities from across the country.  And for the next six hours we listened together, prayed together, cried together, and danced and sang together.

The speeches were long and many, and the schedule ran late — but the electricity of the crowd was so palpable, the occasion so moving, that we forgot about our tired feet and let ourselves feel the moment, so in tune with Klal Yisrael and all its diverse members.  We chanted endlessly — “Never Again,” “No Ceasefire,” “Bring them Home Now,” “We Support Israel.” We stood shoulder to shoulder with Jews of all ages from across this great land to speak up and show up to support Israel, to bring the hostages home and to fight against vitriolic anti-semitism rising around the world and in our own backyards. 

As we heard from our political leaders, we felt the support of, and pride in, our nation. Wrapped in an Israeli flag to lead us in Hatikvah, Omer Adam gave us heavy emotion and connection to our homeland. Hollywood actors bearing the mantle defending the Jewish people gave us encouragement to continue in our holy work of fighting antisemitism and advocating for Israel in person and online. Matisyahu led the crowd in his anthem of hope that we will one day live without war and bloodshed, and he gave us a future to believe in. Families of hostages shared heart-wrenching stories and made us feel the collective anger and fury that the world has ignored our brothers and sisters in captivity, alongside a tremendous love for our larger Jewish family as we prayed as one for their safe return. 

It is hard to pinpoint one piece of the March as the most moving or impactful, but it just may have been when Ishay Ribo and Omer Adam sang “Halev Sheli” with members of Zaka — the volunteer organization tasked with finding human remains to ensure that Jewish victims of terror receive proper and respectful Jewish burials. This song, from the Pesach Haggadah, recounts the story of the Jewish people, our survival despite the enemies that try to destroy us in every generation.  And in every generation and with every enemy, G-d saves us and keeps us alive as a nation. We are resilient, we are survivors of so much in our past, and we are here — showing up and speaking out together with hundreds of thousands of our brothers and sisters.

Fiercely and passionately, listening and praying, screaming and chanting, singing and dancing — they took their place as the next generation of strong and proud Jews standing up for our people in Israel and the Diaspora. 

We brought 18 high school seniors with us — in the midst of their college application season, trying to wrap their heads around the new world order that seems to have descended upon us since the horrific October 7. These teens, whom we have raised and educated to believe that they can — and should — do anything, and that they can — and will — accomplish everything, now must reckon with a new reality where it feels the world of college campuses is against them.  And oh, did they show up on Tuesday.  Fiercely and passionately, listening and praying, screaming and chanting, singing and dancing — they took their place as the next generation of strong and proud Jews standing up for our people in Israel and the Diaspora. I was proud to be there and privileged to be there with them. 

It’s been a very long 41 days.  As a people, across the world, we have raised extraordinary amounts of money, launched countless chesed initiatives, brought the plight of fellow Jews into our daily lives, prayed for peace and taken on many mitzvot in the merit of those we have lost and those whom we are missing. May we continue to feel an absolute connection with all our fellow Jews, with no hesitation or concern for differing opinions or practices. May we continue to pray together as one, to bring joy to God that His children are united. May we find the light in this month of Kislev and may we see the safe return of our soldiers doing their holy work in Gaza and the safe and speedy return of our hostages.  To quote Ishay Ribo on Tuesday — May we merit to be unified as one with one heart forever.

Sarah Emerson is the Chief Operating Officer at Shalhevet High School.  She lives in L.A. with her husband and four children.