Rally in Washington 11/14/23

[mevinyavin]

It pains me when I see people quoting Rabbonim who are no longer available to paskin regarding current events. RYBs once commented that it is impossible to know what a Gadol would have held about current events today, as "even Yosef Hatzadik misunderstood Yaakov Avinu." Instead, he advised finding the biggest person you can who knows you and your situation and asking them for hadracha.
It is true that somewhere up the line, the Gadol will need to figure out what his Rebbe zatzal would have decided. But then he is using his own daas Torah, that by and large, he acquired from his Rebbe by being a proper talmid.
Ask your Rav, the one who knows you and is living today, what you should do, and leave the debate out of it. It just isn't worth hashing out the pros and cons here on the thread when the answer will be personal and relevant to you only.

[Sammy82]

This is from Teaneck; I was there.

Originally, we were facing them and they were facing us. But at some point, a friend of mine had the brilliant idea that we should turn away and form a circle and put our backs to them. At that point we just started singing, and you could tell that it irked them to no end that we were not taking the bait.

It matters not what we say to them; it only matters what we say to the One above.

Were those on the other side locals? Or imported?

[justaregularguy]

Bad link.

ooh youre right it became private for some reason. will try and get the right link.

[justaregularguy]

Bad link.

https://youtu.be/copUXrp4vUE?t=4331

[imayid2]

I’m heading there is a letter from Rav Ahron Feldman about the rally, has anyone seen it?

[Traveler718]

I’m heading there is a letter from Rav Ahron Feldman about the rally, has anyone seen it?

Hefkervelt posted the following, but I haven't seen anything from Rav Feldman in writing:

Rav Aaron Feldman shlita Rosh Yeshiva Ner Yisroel Baltimore spoke about attending the rally in Washington DC. He quoted the rabeinu Yona about התחברות לרשעים that it is a איסור דאורייתא and the long standing policy of Agudas Yisroel is not to join or partner any event demonstration or rally which the reform and other apikorsim  are in charge of. However being that the current situation is pikuach nefesh as Israel does not have anough weapons to sustain itself  it needs America to help, the agudah will not partner but agreed to passively  send out fliers to their members and mailing lists encouraging balei batim to go, as the more people who go to Washington it will impress upon congress the support that they could lose if they succumb to pressures from the moslems in the US but yeshiva bochurim should not go and agudah urges everyone to go to show the amount of people that are supporting the war against Hamas

[dealfinder11]

My observation of what i have seen from many rabbanim: They seem to approve of the rally but are not necessarily recommending individuals attend the rally. I understand that this can rub many the wrong way and you will therefore not see those statements spelled out the way I just did.

Which brings me to ask the question: Is there really any effective difference between 150k or 250k people at the rally?

[jj1000]

Which brings me to ask the question: Is there really any effective difference between 150k or 250k people at the rally?

Of course.

250k is MLK march level large.

[dealfinder11]

Of course.

250k is MLK march level large.

So you believe 150k doesn't reinforce as much support as 250K? Care to elaborate? As an aside, the size of US population back then was about half of what it is now.

[ushdadude]

My observation of what i have seen from many rabbanim: They seem to approve of the rally but are not necessarily recommending individuals attend the rally. I understand that this can rub many the wrong way and you will therefore not see those statements spelled out the way I just did.

Which brings me to ask the question: Is there really any effective difference between 150k or 250k people at the rally?

I understand the urge to justify our absence by saying that there will be so many people there anyway, so my presence doesn't make a difference. It is important to know that any decision which would be unacceptable for the masses to make, is unacceptable for individuals to make.

[jj1000]

So you believe 150k doesn't reinforce as much support as 250K? Care to elaborate? As an aside, the size of US population back then was about half of what it is now.

100k, 250k, 500k, 750k, 1mm+

All make huge impact differences.

The whole point of the march is to show support for the 3 issues the march is for.

And the more people there the more support it shows.

Those numbers are benchmarks that make impressions to the general public.

[dealfinder11]

the masses have different hashkafik views than individuals. Not the hashkafa of having a rally. The hashkafa of the speakers, Kol Isha etc.

[jj1000]

Did any organizations push to get goyim to show up? Run local ads in DC and Baltimore? Get churches on board? Seems many would want to come from those sects as well.

[dealfinder11]

100k, 250k, 500k, 750k, 1mm+

All make huge impact differences.

The whole point of the march is to show support for the 3 issues the march is for.

And the more people there the more support it shows.

Those numbers are benchmarks that make impressions to the general public.

My understanding is that the purpose of this rally is more about making the impression of public officials than on individuals. I still don't understand what 250k accomplishes that 150K doesn't. IMO, a rally over 100k is a massive statement that serves the intended purpose.

[ushdadude]

the masses have different hashkafik views than individuals. Not the hashkafa of having a rally. The hashkafa of the speakers, Kol Isha etc.

Do we know who the speakers are? Are they talking about hashkafa? Is Ishay Ribo kol Isha?
Even if the answer is yes, can you bring headphones? That's what I plan on doing

[ushdadude]

My understanding is that the purpose of this rally is more about making the impression of public officials than on individuals. I still don't understand what 250k accomplishes that 150K doesn't. IMO, a rally over 100k is a massive statement that serves the intended purpose.

Apparently the agudah disagrees

[dealfinder11]

Apparently the agudah disagrees

Source?

[jj1000]

My understanding is that the purpose of this rally is more about making the impression of public officials than on individuals. I still don't understand what 250k accomplishes that 150K doesn't. IMO, a rally over 100k is a massive statement that serves the intended purpose.

You don't work in marketing is my guess

It's a march to make a statement of support. To me it's a moot discussion and the higher numbers serve obvious benefit. Talk to anyone in marketing what they think, is 150k better than 250k.

[Dan]

Source?

[ushdadude]

I regret being sucked into this silly debate. I'm out