Arizona Jewish community rallies in support of hostages, against antisemitism

Arizona's Jewish community gathered at a busy north Scottsdale intersection to call for the release of hostages taken by Hamas and to stand in solidarity with students advocating for Jewish rights amidst pro-Palestinian protesters at American universities.

At the event were two Scottsdale rabbis and state Rep. Alma Hernandez, D-Tucson.

At the peak of the protest, more than 50 people were gathered on the southeast corner of Scottsdale and Thunderbird roads, many waving Israeli flags and signs that called to "Stop Hamas, save people of Gaza," as organizers handed out flyers of the hostages believed to be held by Hamas.

Israel-Palestine protests: Police use gas, rubber bullets to break up 2nd encampment at University of Arizona

Arizona Jews for Justice organized the event

Eddie Chavez Calderon is the campaign director of Arizona Jews for Justice, and like Hernandez, he is a Mexican Jew. He helped shepherd the rally as buses and commuters passed by.

"I have never experienced racism the way I have antisemitism," said Calderon, as to why he was fueled to be an advocate for Jewish rights.

Calderon addressed those in attendance with a megaphone, facing people in blue and white shirts with flags, posters and signs.

Calderon passed out small Israeli flags to supporters and loaned out signs to draw the attention of those in the 12 lanes of traffic passing by the group, Officers in Scottsdale police vehicles watched, first alongside protesters, and then across the street.

Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz of Valley Beit Midrash is a founder of Arizona Jews for Justice and organized the event alongside Calderon.

Yanklowitz thanked those in attendance who stood in solidarity as a counterprotest to pro-Palestinian protesters across the state and nation.

Yanklowitz ended the event by noting that pro-Jewish voices needed to stand with allies in elected government to support Israel's right to defend itself. The crowd applauded.

"The antisemitism is almost predictable," proclaimed Yanklowitz to the crowd over the megaphone.

Hernandez, who spoke one-on-one with supporters at the event, addressed the crowd as well.

"I not only stand in front of you as a student and as a faculty member at ASU. I stand before you as a Mexican, Jew and as a legislator for the state here in Arizona," Hernandez said.

"We must continue to show up for ourselves. We cannot be silent," said Hernandez, echoing a message from Yanklowitz that similar gatherings needed to continue and expand in size and scope.

Hernandez: Proud to demonstrate her freedom of religious expression

Speakers talked individually with The Arizona Republic during the event, discussing their support of the state of Israel and students who supported the cause.

Hernandez, a student at ASU's Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law, made the 125-mile commute on Thursday from her Tucson legislative district to support the cause.

"What we are seeing on campus right now is really just distressing for many students right now," she said. "I have my last final tomorrow, and there are many students who are in similar situations that are still worried about school and trying to get things done, and then they also have to worry about walking on campus and hearing people chanting, 'Death to Zionists' and 'Death to Israel' .... it is a very distressing and disappointing time."

She called it another peak in distress after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack.

"What is really frustrating for me is when we have individuals that do not understand or cannot see from our perspective. How calling for my death is a call for violence," Hernandez said.

Hernandez said that despite being in a minority as a Mexican and a Jew, she was proud to demonstrate her freedom of religious expression, noting that her family was unable to do the same in Mexico.

"I get messages from individuals saying 'How dare you as a Mexican woman stand with the oppressors?' and I just I don't understand that concept, because I come from a very diverse background and a very diverse community," Hernandez said.

Hernandez she has used her political career to uplift the voices of her community, backing a law that mandates Holocaust education in Arizona and leading a bipartisan trip to Israel.

"It's my job as an elected official to stand up for my community, but also stand up for every other community," Hernandez said.

Yanklowitz said the gathering was intended to act as a counter-protest that would build solidarity with Jewish college students in Arizona, and across the country who were fighting what Yanklowitz described as antisemitism across U.S. colleges.

Education: ASU instructor banned from campus after harassing woman during pro-Israel demonstration

Speaking out against antisemitism

"When there's threats against Jewish students, people don't treat it the same way," said Yanklowitz, comparing the issue to prejudice faced against people of color and the LBGTQIA+ community.

"There has been propaganda from Hamas and their supporters globally that has tried to paint Jews as oppressors, and it's one of the old antisemitic tropes, and there's very little nuance in the conversation right now that the extreme political margins are dominating the conversation," said Yanklowitz, with a near symphonic continuation of horns echoing over his words.

Yanklowitz is approaching his 12th year as an Arizonan and has been engaged in civic activities with Arizona Jews For Justice since he founded the organization.

"The next step is to build bridges in this country between the left and the right, between Jews and Muslims. Between all people," Yanklowitz said.

Rabbi Andy Green of Congregation Or Tzion participated in the event with his son, believing it was important to share the message of resilience.

"It's important for my son, (and) for me to make sure that he sees Jews proudly standing as Jews and also others who support Jews proudly standing with us," said Green as a crowd begun to form on the sidewalk.

Green said gathering in solidarity with other congregations and the rest of the Jewish community was important given the Israel-Hamas conflict and protests in Arizona.

"We want all of our Jewish brothers and sisters to feel comfortable and proud being Jewish. That's one of the things that's been so frightening during this time," Green said.

Green focused on the loss of hostages presumed still to be in the captivity of Hamas, with his son passing out flyers with photos.

"It is a grave Injustice the way in which this has been lost in the discourse," Green said.

Protesters faced east, toward Jerusalem

Yanklowitz said the choice for the location of the protest was significant, as Scottsdale Road straddled the city line with Phoenix. He acknowledged that facing east, toward Jerusalem, was in honor of the Jewish faith.

Unlike campus protesters who have made it a goal to stay as long as possible on college property, the crowd quickly dispersed after 6:30 p.m., with a handful of protesters holding signs as the sun set on Scottsdale and another protest in Arizona.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Scottsdale protest for pro-Jewish voices draws more than 50 people