Article Photos

PUKALANI - About 175 people rallied to show support for Israel on Sunday. They included residents and tourists, Jews, Christians, Buddhists, Baha'is and people of no religious faith.

Rabbi David Glickman of the Jewish Congregation of Maui said, "We are not here to make a political declaration or to solve the world's problems" but to pray for peace and to support the victims of violence, including Palestinian victims of Hamas violence.

After the speeches, Israeli songs, a message from Gov. Linda Lingle and Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona, and a video message from the consul general of Israel, the crowd lined Kula Highway to wave signs, including some that read, "Hamas, stop using children as human shields" and "We love Israel."

They then returned to an overflowing Grace Church to recite a prayer for peace, Psalm 27, and to hear Willie K. play "Hatikva," the national anthem of Israel.

Robert Shimabukoro, who said he had visited the Holy Land, said he "just wanted to support Israel."

Chuck Keyzer said he had been to the Middle East several times. "There's a lot in the Old Testament, if you understand it, that marks the new covenant that makes us Christians." He recalled that he had once spent three weeks in the area, a week in Egypt, a week in Jordan and a week in Israel.

On that trip, he met an old man, a Jew, a settler on the West Bank. The man told him, " 'I fear nothing but God.' That impressed me so much to know he had that kind of faith," said Keyzer. "That's why when I saw the poster, I came here."

Only brief references were made to the Israeli Defense Forces' three-week attack on the Gaza Strip, with somewhat more detailed comments about Hamas rocket attacks on Israel.

Pastor Robb Finberg, who suggested the rally to Glickman a week ago, said that the crowd was there "to pray for peace and for Hamas to stop terrorizing Palestinians."

Glickman began his talk with a story about Jews and Arabs living in peace, referring to his own family. His grandfather's family lived with three Arab families in Old Jerusalem, "right at the Damascus Gate," until 1929, when they had to flee for their lives.

His grandfather, Glickman said, gave an Arab neighbor the key to his upstairs apartment, which was used as a "house of learning." The Arab removed the scriptures and wall hangings so they could not be seen from outside and locked the door.

In 1967, after Israel conquered Jerusalem in the Six-day War, the Glickmans returned. The Arab merchant who his grandfather had trusted was dead, but that man's son was still operating the shop on the ground floor. He returned the key to the intact house of learning.

"Arabs, Jews and Christians live in harmony every day in Israel," said Glickman. "This is not propaganda."

He said that he truly believes that "without brainwashing and hatred," Palestinians also would live harmoniously with other people.

He then played a recording of the "Tzeva adom," the red alert that gives Israelis 15 seconds notice that a Hamas rocket is coming.

"Children should not have to worry about missile strikes every day the way they have for eight years," Glickman said.

"That is the real crime. The loss of another generation to fear, to hatred and to aggression."

He said Israeli children sing songs they have written themselves, with lyrics like "I was born for peace."

"The children of Hamas are not taught to sing songs of peace," Glickman said.

He said the Islamic extremists have expanded their message against the Jews "to include a hatred of the entire world, of the infidels."

That part of his message was also in Joshua Dayan, the consul general's message. Israel is strong, he said, and its 7 million people will never be defeated. But with Israel's "greatest friend," America, it is 307 million people, and "we are invincible."

"Hatred is like a self-breeding virus," said Glickman. "Nothing is needed to breed hatred but hatred itself. . . .

"Evil is a word many people of my generation shrink from using." He said the word seems unmodern, primitive.

"There are times and crimes that remind us how often the Bible gets it right. Hatred is just plain evil."

Sunday's rally was the largest Israel rally on Maui anyone could remember, but Glickman said it was "one off." There is no plan to form an organization, but just to show support on one day for Israel.

Finberg said he thought "it would be a positive thing to show solidarity with Israel," so he suggested inviting "the community at large."

A number of Christian pastors took up the invitation, and at least five attended the rally, including Pua Hashimoto, chaplain at Maui Community Correctional Center; Scott Craig, pastor at Kumulani Chapel and president of the Maui Ministerial Alliance; Mark Dung, pastor of My Brother's Keeper; Barbara Tengan, pastor at Wailuku Door of Faith; Josh Marocco, youth pastor at King's Cathedral; and Finberg, senior pastor at Grace Church.

Finberg said, "Christianity owes everything to Israel, because Christianity is the fulfillment of Israel's faith. . . . We are gathered in support of peace, for Israel's people - both Jew and Palestinian. The terrorism that has come to that part of the world through the Hamas Organization has made victims of both Palestinians and Jews."

* Harry Eagar can be reached at heagar@mauinews.com.