MACON, Ga. — Elizabeth Bahar has been a rabbi at the Temple Beth Israel for years. When she heard about the rally for Israel in D.C., she knew she needed to be there.
"I felt compelled and called to do that," Bahar said.
Bahar was one of 290,000 people in attendance according to the event's organizer the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.
"What a powerful thing it is to stand in solidarity and to remember that we're all part of one human family," Bahar said.
Bahar is grateful she could be a part of this history, but she was worried on her way there.
"I was concerned that while the people who were putting the march together, I had faith that they would do everything they can for security. When somebody is so determined it doesn't necessarily matter," Bahar said.
While the number of people caught attention, the speaker lineup also turned heads. Some speakers were college students, families of the hostages and elected officials. It included a number of Congresspeople.
"They expressed their desire to see Israel remain strong, democratic, and the desire for hopefully peace," Bahar said.
The 2022 FBI Hate Crime Statistics Report showed a 37% increase in hate crimes against Jews. Bahar has experienced it herself.
"They hung a jew effigy…were standing outside screaming hail Hitler and other horrific Nazi slogans and one guy was walking around with an Israeli flag around his ankles, so that he would step on it as he walked," Bahar said.
Despite the targeted violence, Bahar said the march was beautiful, peaceful and she left feeling hopeful.