'March for Israel' rally to feature Debra Messing, Van Jones, families of kidnapped Israelis

The upcoming March for Israel rally in Washington, DC, on Tuesday at the National Mall is set to feature a lineup of prominent figures. The event, organized to show solidarity with Israel and to stand against antisemitism, will include stars such as Debra Messing, known for her acting and advocacy work, and Van Jones, a distinguished author, lawyer, and civil-rights advocate.

Messing is renowned for her Emmy-winning role as Grace Adler in Will & Grace and has also starred in television series The Starter Wife and The Mysteries of Laura and the movies The Wedding Date and Searching. Jones is known for his roles as a CNN host, a New York Times bestselling author, and adviser to former US president Barack Obama.

Other celebrities in attendance 

Joining them will be Dr. Rochelle Ford, president of Dillard University; Tovah Feldshuh, a celebrated Broadway actress; and Natan Sharansky, a renowned human-rights activist and former political prisoner. The event will also bring together bipartisan congressional leaders, families of American hostages, and college students united for Israel.

An interfaith alliance will be part of the gathering, emphasizing the broad support for the cause. Adding to the event’s appeal will be musical performances by Israeli pop icons Omer Adam and Ishay Ribo. The organizers have also announced that additional speakers will be revealed in due course.

This rally, anticipated to be one of the largest shows of unity and support for Israel in recent history, is a response to the recent surge in antisemitic incidents in the US, particularly following the massacre of 1,200 Israelis and taking about 240 hostages on October 7. The organizers said they were aiming to bring together hundreds of thousands of Israel supporters, underlining the strong ties between the US and Israel and their shared values in the fight against terrorism.

Eric D. Fingerhut, president and CEO of the Jewish Federations of North America, and William Daroff, CEO of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, have both stressed the importance of this event in demonstrating unwavering support for Israel and taking a firm stand against terrorism and antisemitism.

“We want to make sure that the world doesn’t forget,” Fingerhut told The Jerusalem Post Monday. “This rise of antisemitism we are experiencing is clearly tied to the war, and it is an attempt to intimidate us from supporting Israel, being vocal in support of Israel on campus and in our communities. We think it’s really important to stand up and say that we will not be intimidated. America is not an antisemitic nation, and we won’t let it become one.”

“The majority of Americans support Israel and support the direction that President Biden and Congress have taken since October 7,” he said. “We know there are people out there on the fringe who disagree but are very loud, so we have to be counted. We have to come to the National Mall and show that the overwhelming majority of Americans support Israel’s efforts to defeat Hamas.”

Daroff told the Post he expects “tens and tens of thousands to join together on Washington’s National Mall to march for Israel, to march against antisemitism, and to demand the immediate release of our hostages.”

“Jews and our non-Jewish allies are coming from every corner of America to thank Congress, to thank President Biden, to thank the American people for standing with the people of Israel and with American Jewry,” he said.

The rally will open its gates at 10 a.m., with the march scheduled between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. The event promises to be a significant demonstration of solidarity, featuring influential speakers and performances, and will be a notable moment for communities across America to come together.