Thousands of people from all around the world
came together on the afternoon of August 23, 2011 to support Israel
with Glen Beck’s “Restoring Courage” mega-event.
The main event was held at the Southern Wall excavation site
near the Kotel, Western Wall in the Old City, with entry for ticket holders only.
In addition, the event and the warm-up show were broadcast on a large screen
to a large crowd in Safra Square in Jerusalem at no charge.
The tourists seated in a reserved front section received bottles of water,
when the screen showed the audience at the Davidson Center in the hot summer sun,
the regular seating in the shade at Safra Square seemed much more comfortable.
Rabbi Shlomo Riskin began the program,
and was followed by Dudu Fisher who led in the singing of Hatikva.
Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat spoke next.
The event was also broadcast live around the world to gatherings of supporters,
like this one in Charleston, South Carolina in the United States.
Glen Beck spoke passionately of his support for Israel
and the need for good to triumph over evil.
Outside Safra Square there were people waiting for the light-rail trains to arrive
or others just shooting the breeze;
but for many, this was an important, even a patriotic event.
Love him or hate him, understand him or not,
Glen Beck brought thousands of visitors to Israel
and the dire ‘end of days’ predictions did not come about.
Jerusalem may have been quiet,
but another 20 rockets were fired overnight from Gaza
aimed at the 1,000,000 people living in southern Israel and a baby was injured.
Israel responded by targeting a weapons factory in Gaza.
Israel needs not only courage,
but the right to live without the constant threat of terror.