A group of roughly 75 people gathered Friday, Nov. 3 in the Iowa City Ped Mall as speakers from the local Jewish community called for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
Speakers emphasized their commitment to their faith but also levied harsh criticism at prominent voices and leaders who have called for a return to the status quo between Israelis and Gazans, saying that would only "continue the violence."
The local contingent also sang Jewish songs in Hebrew and English and held a prayer session, asking for peace.
"Nothing could be more Jewish than standing up for oppressed people," Samantha Brotman, an Iowa City-area member of the Jewish community, said. She shared her experience of visiting Israel when she was in college. Brotman said she felt duped when she planted a tree there, learning the land was once home to Arabs who were expelled from their home by the Israeli Defense Forces.
Demonstrators called for action from their fellow Jewish communities and pleaded for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. They implored listeners to call their representatives and push them to "stop funding Israeli bombs and guns, and more."
As the sun descended, the gathering concluded with the symbolic breaking of bread, passing around Brotman's homemade bread and grape juice blessed by another local Jewish community member, Micah Rosen.
Speakers emphasized their commitment to their faith but also levied harsh criticism at prominent voices and leaders who have called for a return to the status quo between Israelis and Gazans, saying that would only "continue the violence."
The local contingent also sang Jewish songs in Hebrew and English and held a prayer session, asking for peace.
"Nothing could be more Jewish than standing up for oppressed people," Samantha Brotman, an Iowa City-area member of the Jewish community, said. She shared her experience of visiting Israel when she was in college. Brotman said she felt duped when she planted a tree there, learning the land was once home to Arabs who were expelled from their home by the Israeli Defense Forces.
Demonstrators called for action from their fellow Jewish communities and pleaded for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. They implored listeners to call their representatives and push them to "stop funding Israeli bombs and guns, and more."
As the sun descended, the gathering concluded with the symbolic breaking of bread, passing around Brotman's homemade bread and grape juice blessed by another local Jewish community member, Micah Rosen.
Local Jewish community gathered Friday, calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war
More than 75 people gathered on the Pedestrian Mall on Friday evening, sharing personal experiences with their faith, denouncing Zionism, and calling for a ceasefire.
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