Russians Jews Rally for Israel Thousands of Russian Jewish immigrants rally in support of Israel By Bryan Virasami Staff Writer http://www.newsday.com April 29, 2002 As weekend violence took more lives in the Middle East, several thousand Russian Jewish immigrants gathered in a rain-drenched park in Brooklyn yesterday to show support for Israel. The crowd filled Seaside Park near the boardwalk in Brighton Beach as Gov. George Pataki, other politicians and many Jewish leaders condemned terrorism and drew parallels between America's response to the Sept. 11 attacks and Israel's recent military attacks in Palestinian cities. The governor, who has shown up at many rallies in support of Israel, told the crowd that everyone who believes in "freedom” should stand behind Israel. "Never has it been more important for all of us to support Israel,” Pataki said. The crowd chanted "Terrorism nyet! Israel da!” -- using the Russian words for "no” and "yes” -- and held signs in both Russian and English as dozens of speakers addressed them from a stage under a tent draped with giant Israeli and American flags. Yesterday's agreement that would end the siege on Yasser Arafat's compound was not mentioned. "I feel proud that so many people came,” said Lan Friedman of New Jersey, who emigrated from Ukraine. He was accompanied by his wife and two daughters, ages 7 and 2. "So many people came to support not only Israel but to show support against terror.” Standing under an umbrella with a friend, Mila Tsvik, 50, said she has a personal stake in wanting to see peace in Israel because her son, Danny, insists on living there with his wife and two children. "I told him a few times to come back, to take his family and come back,” said Tsvik, who emigrated from Ukraine to the Bronx several years ago. "But he says ‘No, I'll stay here with our people. This is my home.'” The rally was organized by the Jewish Community Relations Council and the Jack D. Weiler Center for Intergroup Relations. While the crowd cheered speakers who called for a clampdown on terrorists, some admitted they weren't sure how to reach a peace settlement. "It's really hard. I'm here and all the action is over there in Israel,” said Alexander Tsisin, 31, of Brooklyn, a software engineer from Russia. "It's hard to say [how to reach peace], but I do support Israel now.” Tsisin, who emigrated from Russia, said he was working four blocks from the World Trade Center on Sept. 11 and feels the U.S. war against al-Qaida is no different than Israel's recent assault on Palestinian cities. "It's the same as what the U.S. is doing to stop terrorism in Afghanistan,” he said. Speakers at the rally included radio personality Curtis Sliwa and representatives of Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Council Speaker Gifford Miller.