Two Dozen Rabbis Gathered at Israeli Consulate, Hostage’s Family Appears at Second Rally
Jewish clergy from across Los Angeles County gathered outside the Israeli Consulate on Monday, calling for an immediate cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war, expanded food aid for Palestinians in Gaza, and the safe return of Israeli hostages still in captivity, as reported by ABC 7 News.
The demonstration, billed as “A Jewish Prayer for Peace,” brought together roughly two dozen rabbis from across denominations. Organizers described the event as a “moral cry” over Gaza’s deepening humanitarian crisis and a plea for peace on both sides of the conflict.
Rabbi Ken Chasen, of Leo Baeck Temple, said, “There is nothing more pro-Israel than calling for an end of the war in Gaza, the return of Israel’s hostages to their loved ones, and food relief for every Palestinian civilian facing the perils of starvation.”
Rabbi Chasen added, “There is no standard in Judaism that allows for starvation as a weapon of war. Our people, our tradition, and all of humanity are degraded by a famine that can be stopped but still persists,” as quoted by The Los Angeles Daily Press.
A separate gathering took place at the Simon Wiesenthal Center, where families of hostages pressed for more action. Among them was the family of Rom Braslavski, a 21-year-old abducted from the Nova music festival during Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, assault on Israel. Braslavski is still in captivity.
According to the Associated Press. 60,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the war, alongside record levels of starvation-related deaths in Gaza. Roughly 1,200 Israelis have also been killed, while 251 were taken hostage. Although some hostages were freed during temporary ceasefire deals, an estimated 20 are believed to still be alive in Gaza.
