More than a thousand people demonstrate outside Teaneck synagogue over Israel-Gaza war
TEANECK − Pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrators faced off near the Congregation Bnai Yeshurun synagogue Monday night during a ceremony that honored victims of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack in Israel.
The event that took place at 8 p.m. was hosted by Zaka, an Israeli search-and-rescue non-government organization that offers humanitarian assistance in response to a terror attack, disaster or accident.
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators had planned a protest outside the synagogue led by Within our Lifetime, a New York-based Palestinian organization.
At around 6 p.m. before the ceremony, more than a thousand Israeli supporters filled the residential streets as they gathered in front of the synagogue to form their own counter-protest.
A rabbi spoke to the crowd saying: "This harassment stops here and tonight. The Jewish community of Teaneck will not stand and let our houses of worship be targeted again and again. They will not run us out of town."
Down West Englewood Avenue, hundreds of pro-Palestinian supporters gathered at the end of the street before the event. Israel supporters faced the Palestinian supporters across the road as both led their respective chants.
"The hostages need to be freed, but we are calling for an end to the murder of Palestinian people. Thirty-three thousand Palestinians have died at the hands of Israel. The genocide needs to end," said Sarah Elm from Passaic County, who has attended other Within our Lifetime protests in the past.
As the sun set, protesters from each side met in front of the synagogue while the Teaneck Police Department separated the crowd to make sure no violence took place.
"It would be one thing if this was a protest against Israel, but this feels like a protest against the Jewish people," said Shamaya Krinsky, a lifelong Teaneck resident who has been attending Bnai Yeshurun since he was a child.
The passionate protesters were waving flags high in the air as the demonstrations by both groups of people went well into the evening until at least 10:30 p.m.
The Teaneck Police Department has yet to announce if there were any arrests or injuries sustained during the protests.
Israel states that 130 hostages abducted during the Oct. 7 Hamas attack are still in captivity. Over 30,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza as a response to the Hamas attack, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The conflict remains a debated topic in Northern New Jersey and around the world.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Demonstrations outside Teaneck synagogue over Israel-Gaza war
