Low Turnout at Anti-Israel Protest Against ZAKA Burial Volunteers in Teaneck

By Matis Glenn

Despite an effort by two prominent anti-Israel organizations, only around 100 protestors reportedly arrived Monday evening at a Teaneck, New Jersey synagogue which was holding an event honoring ZAKA, an Israeli volunteer rescue and burial group that shared first-hand accounts of the Oct. 7 massacre. Over 1,000 pro-Israel counter-demonstrators attended a separate gathering.

The event, held and sponsored by Congregation Bnai Yeshurun on West Englewood Road, featured speeches from ZAKA volunteers, who at great personal risk, sprung into action immediately after the attacks and worked extensively to recover the victims of the massacre.

The synagogue also honored Simcha Greiniman, veteran ZAKA volunteer and commander in Modiin.

Anti-Israel protestors clashed with the counter-demonstrators, but law enforcement intervened and no violent incidents occured.

Posters circulated on social media by organizers Within Our Lifetime (WOL) and American Muslims for Palestine (AMP) called what they deemed ZAKA’s version of events “lies” used by the Israeli government as “fuel” for “genocide” in Gaza.

Horrific details of Hamas’ atrocities were documented by the perpetrators themselves and posted to social media, and were corroborated by international journalists and intelligence agencies.

Community rabbis of the Va’ad Harabanim Rabbinical Council of Bergen County, in a Sunday letter, called for a peaceful counter-demonstration. They also slammed the protest as a “desecration of the memory” of the victims of Oct. 7, and called it a “brazen attack on every member of the Jewish community.”

The counter demonstration took place at 6:30 p.m.

“Police officials told me that they will continue to ensure the utmost security and safety for all members of the Teaneck community,” Sol Itzkowitz, Coordinator for Bergen County Chaverim told Hamodia.

Ahead of the event, a heavy law enforcement presence was seen in the area surrounding Bnai Yeshurun at around 6 p.m., including members of State police, Bergen County Police Department and officers from the Office of Emergency Management, according to Itzkowitz.

Previous protests from WOL have included shutdowns of bridges and highways, as well as JFK airport. AMP is under investigation for allegedly funding the Hamas terror group, and WOL has repeatedly praised Hamas, the Oct. 7 massacre, and have called for “intifada.” WOL’s founder, Nerdeen Kiswani, publicly threatened to murder a Jewish young man who was wearing an Israeli sweatshirt while she was delivering a speech.