Pittsburghers asked to celebrate Israel’s independence ‘now more than ever’
'It's important for the community to come together to make their voices loud and clear that they stand with Israel'
Pittsburghers are invited to celebrate Israel’s independence by marching, eating and listening to music. A public program, hosted by the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh on May 1, will feature an indoor gathering at Congregation Beth Shalom complete with free pita and hummus, followed by a march to the Squirrel Hill Jewish Community Center and live music from the Israeli band Hashayara.
The group, which hails from Misgav (Pittsburgh’s sister region in Israel) and performed at last year’s Yom Ha’Atzmaut celebration, has spent months playing for IDF reserve soldiers and evacuees in Israeli hotels, according to Kim Saltzman, Federation’s director of Israel and overseas operations.
Hashayara’s concerts consist of “storytelling of their own experiences since Oct. 7, and English and Hebrew songs,” she said. “It’s a really engaging and great way to connect with Israel and Israeli culture.”
Although there will be live and recorded music inside Beth Shalom, as well as live music inside the JCC, no music will be played during the march out of respect for Jewish community members who refrain from listening to music during the Omer, the 49-day period between Passover and Shavuot, Salzman added.
Speaking to the Chronicle by phone from Israel, the Federation staffer said she hopes to see as many people as possible on May 1.
“I think every year it’s important to come out and celebrate Yom Ha’Atzmaut because the establishment of the state of Israel is — as far as I’m concerned and as far as the Federation is concerned — both a miracle and something to celebrate,” she said. “That the Jews finally have their own homeland in our ancestral homeland is a cause for celebration every year. But now, it’s a reason for people to come out more than ever. The situation that Israel has found itself in since Oct. 7, and the situation of Jews in America and all around the world have found
themselves in with the rise in antisemitism, it’s important for the community to come together to make their voices loud and clear that they stand with Israel.”
A desire for harmony comes amid strains in Diaspora-Israel relations. Last month, Gallup reported that Americans’ support for Israel had reached a 25-year low.
“Americans’ sympathies with the Israelis continue to decline, largely because of Democrats’ dwindling support for the Israelis in the long-standing conflict with the Palestinians. Republicans remain overwhelmingly sympathetic toward the Israelis,” Gallup noted.
YouGov, a public opinion and data company, asked U.S. adults in February about sympathies regarding the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Whereas 25% of 30-44 year-olds said they are more sympathetic to Israelis, 21% said they are more sympathetic to Palestinians. Among 18-29 year-olds, however, 21% said they are more sympathetic to Israelis, while 23% said they are more sympathetic to Palestinians.
Salzman said she’s aware of data demonstrating generational shifts in attitude toward Israel.
“Anecdotally, there is a real sort of sense of despair amongst many Israelis right now, feeling like the whole world is kind of against us,” she said. “There’s something very exhausting about what we’re all going through.”
Programs like the May 1 Yom Ha’Atzmaut event are essential, she continued. “Seeing American Jews, or Jews around the world that are coming out in support of Israel is really a morale boost. It’s incredibly important. It gives us a little bit more of a sense of solidarity that we need to keep going.”
Pittsburghers should come together “to show that the American Jewish community is united in their support for Israel,” Salzman stressed. “Oftentimes, some of these fringe or extreme organizations like to make it seem like there are lots of Jews that don’t support Israel. But the reality is just the vast majority of Jews do.”
The same Gallup polling indicating a 25-year low among Americans’ support for Israel still found that, overall, more U.S. adults are sympathetic to the Israelis than to the Palestinians.
Similarly, YouGov noted that among all adults asked about the ongoing conflict, 30% said they are more sympathetic to the Israelis, 17% said they are more sympathetic to the Palestinians, 27% said they are “about equal” and 26% said they are “not sure.”
Shawn Brokos, Federation’s director of community security, said she’s had several meetings with both public safety officials and police officers about the upcoming program.
“I have no doubt that it will be a safe and enjoyable event for all,” she said.
Pittsburghers should “make it a priority” to participate in the Yom Ha’Atzmaut program, Salzman said. “The faith and the destiny of the Jewish people is intertwined with Israel, and we need each other.”
Registration for the May 1 event, which is required, is available at jewishpgh.org/occasion/yom. PJC
Adam Reinherz can be reached at areinherz@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.
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