Greater Hartford for Israel

11/04/2025

Yesterday, we joined with over 150 people to commemorate a year and a half of marching. We came together one last time to celebrate the work we've done, the effort we put in week after week to bring the hostages home, and the community we built along the way.

We were honored to be joined by so many of the elected officials who supported us as we marched including Senator Richard Blumenthal, Congressman John Larson, State Senator Derek Slap, Mayor Shari Cantor, Town Council Member Alberto Cortes, UConn President Radenka Maria, Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford President David Waren, and numerous other local elected officials, candidates, and clergy.

Thank you to everyone who marched with us! And stay tuned for the work we will do in the future for Israel and to fight antisemitism.

10/19/2025

Message from Greater Hartford for Israel Founder Ari Schaffer and fellow march organizer Les Loew:

*March Update*

We are thrilled to see the living hostages coming home and the beginning of the process of returning the remains of those who were killed. After internal discussion, guidance from Run for their Lives, and an assessment of the situation in Israel, we’ve decided to discontinue the weekly marches for the hostages and for Israel.

It has been incredible marching with everyone all of these weeks. Your support and commitment has been incredible. The community built around the marches has been a true inspiration. We’ve turned frustration and anger into action and impact. Thank you for everything!

We’re so happy to have gotten to know and march with everyone who has marched with us and look forward to keeping in touch through Greater Hartford for Israel.

There’s still a lot of work to do to support Israel in Greater Hartford and around the state. We will remain a hub for fighting for Israel and against antisemitism long into the future.

-Les and Ari

10/10/2025

This past Sunday, we joined with the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford to host a march commemorating the second anniversary of October 7th at West Hartford Town Hall!

We were joined by over 200 people and special guests Senator Richard Blumenthal and Congressman John Larson.

Check out the coverage below then join us Sunday back at Bishops Corner for what may be one of our last marches as the hostages come home:

On the two-year anniversary of Oct. 7, the West Hartford community gathered to commemorate the remaining Israeli hostages with messages of cautious optimism. Rally in West Hartford. Oct. 5, 2025. Courtesy photo Submitted Well over a hundred people gathered on the west lawn of West

10/03/2025

It was great to have New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart at our march last week!

Thank you to the 80 people who turned out this past Sunday and all those who have marched with us for the past year and a half to bring the hostages home!

Run for Their Lives

09/08/2025

A week ago, more than a dozen Jewish homes in West Hartford had their signs expressing solidarity with Israel stolen, destroyed, and shoved into storm drains.

Thank you West Hartford Town Council Member Alberto Cortes for putting a sign up on your lawn in solidarity with the Jewish and pro-Israel community of West Hartford!

09/04/2025

"West Hartford Police have confirmed that they are actively investigating an incident that occurred over the weekend, when 'We Stand with Israel' signs at well over a dozen homes in town were removed from private property, and in many cases cut into pieces and stuffed into storm drains."
..

“It is disconcerting that people are being targeted,” said Schaffer. He said it’s worrisome that someone “decided to plan their afternoon destroying property.”

Lawn signs were removed and damaged over the weekend. By Ronni Newton West Hartford Police have confirmed that they are actively investigating an incident that occurred over the weekend, when "We Stand with Israel" signs at well over a dozen homes in town were removed from private property, and in m...

08/28/2025

It was great to be joined last Sunday by State Senator Ryan Fazio for our weekly march for the release of the hostages and for Israel! Thank you for coming all the way up from the Greenwich area to stand with us!

Thank you also to the 85 people who turned out for the march and to the many people who helped out with the program!

Join us this Sunday in Bishops Corner at 930am for our weekly march until the hostages come home!

08/17/2025

Great to be joined by West Hartford Town Council Candidates Ben Lewis, John Lyons, Jason Wang, and Kyle Zelazny join the weekly march for the hostages last Sunday!

Thank you to the over 80 people who joined us for the march calling to bring the 50 hostages still held by Hamas home.

Run for Their Lives

07/25/2025

It was great to joined by State Representative Mike Demicco for last Sunday's march for the 50 hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza!

A great turnout as usual! We will continue to march until the hostages are home! Join us this Sunday in Bishop's Corner for our weekly march!

Run for Their Lives

07/15/2025

The recent NEA Today vote to boycott the ADL shows how extensively antisemitism has taken over major American organizations, a particular concern since the October 7, 2023, Hamas terror attack against Israel.

Greater Hartford for Israel was proud to be one of over 375 signatories on a letter calling out "the growing level of antisemitic activity within teachers’ unions." The letter, signed by Jewish organizations at the national, regional, and local levels, calls on the National Education Association President to "issue a strong condemnation of the antisemitism within the NEA," reject the vote to boycott the ADL, and take action to address antisemitism within national, state, and local affiliates of the teachers' union, including here in Connecticut.

Read the letter and see the full list of signatories here:

Related Articles: Press Release XX min read 375+ Organizations Call on NEA Executive Committee to Reject Efforts to Boycott ADL Education Programs in Schools July 14, 2025 Dear President Pringle, We are writing to express our deep concerns about the growing level of antisemitic activity within teac...