(NECN: Josh Brogadir – Chestnut Hill, Mass.) - There was an immense turnout inside and some protesters outside, as well.
It's a conflict that stirs intense emotions 5,000 miles away from the Middle East.
On Day 6 of the bombings across the world in Gaza and in Israel, Jewish leaders here in Massachusetts are seeking what they call Freedom from Fear.
The lines are long, as thousands descended upon Congregation Mishkan Tefila in Chestnut Hill, Mass., where security is tight and where Israel is receiving political support from state leaders, among them Treasurer Steve Grossman and Governor Deval Patrick.
"I didn't come here tonight for headlines, or for votes. I came here tonight to stand with my friends," Patrick said.
"It's very important to understand Governor Patrick's participation within the context of Israel lobby politics,” said Gaza-born Ahmed Moor, a Harvard graduate student and a contributor to al Jazeera. “[He] really plays to a base that he knows he needs to play to.”
Moor said this should not be a forum for Gov. Patrick or other political leaders to take sides.
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For him, this is personal.
"I'm a refugee from the Gaza Strip, I was born there,” Moor said. “I was only naturalized in 1995. It's outrageous that our government here in the United States is standing on, frankly, the wrong side of history, but in this case also, right now on the wrong side of global opinion.”
The bloodshed in the Middle East includes over 100 Palestinian and three Israeli deaths, with Israel striking key Hamas networks in Gaza and Hamas launching rocket attacks into southern Israel.
So far, there is no ground war, and Egypt is leading efforts to broker a ceasefire.
Back in Chestnut Hill, in the meantime, two more sides of this conflict – one of which included protesters with the Jewish Voice for Peace, opposed to the rally going on inside -- argued back and forth with Israelis living in Boston.
"I've learned from Judaism that we should study war no more -- we should work for peace and security for all peoples,” said Liza Behrendt of the Jewish Voice for Peace. “And bombing children in Gaza is not going to protect children in Sderot.”
"I'm an Israeli -- my whole family, as we speak, are sitting in a shelter,” said Israeli Elad Boker. “And I'm looking at her sign which is a total big lie. Israel do not bomb children in Gaza. The only reason we are bombing places in Gaza is because the terrorists are shooting the rockets, shooting them from houses with civilians.”
Another opinion in this issue with so many.
