Orange, yellow, white, and blue were the colors that filled the demonstration organized by the Jewish community of Milan on Tuesday in front of Palazzo Marino, the seat of the city government. Orange honored the memory of young brothers Kfir and Ariel Bibas, brutally murdered by Hamas. Yellow served as a reminder of the 63 hostages still held captive by the terrorists. White and blue expressed solidarity with Israel.
A few days earlier, the mayor of Milan, Beppe Sala decided not to light up the historic building in orange. Conversely, the Lombardy Region lit up the top floors of its headquarters in orange as a sign of solidarity with the Bibas family.
\u201cThis is a peaceful demonstration in memory of two poor children who were murdered. It is not a protest against anyone. We are here to ask the people of Milan to stand with us, to urge the institutions to secure the release of those still held hostage. It is a disgrace. The civilized world must protest alongside us,\u201d said Walker Meghnagi, president of Milan\u2019s Jewish Community, who opened the event.
\u201cWe are not here to talk politics, but to show support for what is happening in Israel,\u201d said UCEI Vice President Milo Hasbani, stressing the need to express solidarity \u201cespecially with the children and the way they have been treated.\u201d
Among those present in Piazza della Scala was Senator for Life Liliana Segre, a Holocaust survivor. \u201cThe fact that I am here, as old as I am, is already an answer to every question. We are talking about children,\u201d she said.
The Chief Rabbi of Milan, Alfonso Arbib, delivered a somber message. \u201cI thank all the friends who are with us in this moment. But I must also point out that there is a deafening silence around us. I am not speaking of the silence of antisemites, which of course, exists. I am speaking of the silence of good people. I am speaking of those who do not speak out, who do not express their horror at what is happening. This worries me greatly,\u201d Arbib emphasized.
It is crucial, he added, to find the courage to speak up against antisemitic violence and terrorism. The threat, he warned, is not only to Israel but to the entire civilized world, which is danger of losing itself in the face of such indifference. \u201cWhat is lacking now is empathy for the victims. We are asking, I am asking: please, show your empathy.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"