By Cara Hogan
Advocate Staff

Jerusalem may be 5,500 miles away, but the city took center stage in Brookline this week.

More than 500 people, according to a police estimate, turned out on a sunny Sunday afternoon to support the Boston March for a United Jerusalem.

Fumio Taku, the president of Christians and Jews United for Israel, which organized the march, welcomed everyone to the event.

"This is the day we're united to proclaim Jerusalem is the national holy land for all Jews and Israel's undivided capital," said Taku from a podium on the steps of Congregation Kehillath Israel in Coolidge Corner. The crowd cheered, clapped, sang and waved their Israeli flags.

Across Harvard Street, fewer than 10 people protested against the rally, with signs saying "Obama is a Jewish puppet" and accusing Israel of genocide. One protester wearing a white robe shouted nonstop as the many Jewish and Christian leaders addressed the crowd.

In the midst of the rally, Pinchas Baram of Brookline was arrested for assault and battery, according to police. Baram told the Advocate that he went up to the man in the white robe, who was "bellowing anti-Semitic and anti-Israel libels and obscenities."

"I spat on his face, but the fact is my mouth was dry I had no spit," said Baram. "I didn't realize that making a gesture of spitting is assault and battery. I thought if you hit someone that's assault."

The Brookline Police, which had eight officers and two cruisers at the scene for crowd control, handcuffed Baram and whisked him away. Few people seemed to notice the incident, and the crowd raised their voices in song to drown out the protesters.

Sunday's events began with a rally and speeches in front of Kehillath Israel in Coolidge Corner. Accompanied by a keyboardist and bongo player, they sang "Henai Matov," "America the Beautiful" and "Hatikva." A man on stilts with bright yellow-and-black patterned pants and a kippah swayed above the crowd and blew a shofar.

Kehillath Israel Rabbi William Hamilton followed Taku, speaking from the steps of his synagogue.

"All people are G-d's people and deserve the freedom to worship," said Hamilton. "As this is a multifaith gathering, so should Jerusalem be a place for all faiths to gather and worship."

Barry Shrage, president of Combined Jewish Philanthropies, was one of the few speakers who directly addressed protesters, even as they shouted "Free, free Palestine."

"I was at Brandeis this morning and 5,000 people welcomed Oren," said Shrage, referring to Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren. "A pathetic group of 15 protesters came out against him. That group outdoes our enemies across the street."

Shrage said it was even more important now to see people of different faiths join in support of Israel.

"It's a time when attacks on Israel are particularly virulent and friends of Israel are few," said Shrage. "There is a wild mob looking only to destroy; they are not looking for peace."

Most people in the crowd had their backs to the protesters and ignored the shouting.

"Pay no attention to them," said Cheryl Mavrikos of Brookline to a friend about the protesters. "There's always a time for fighting and this isn't it. We're here today for Israel; I'll deal with them later."

Most of the participants looked at the event in a positive light.

"We're happy to see the support," said Robert Finkel of Brookline, who made aliyah and lived in Israel for a few years before coming back to the US.

Traci Costa of Brighton was walking by when she stopped to watch the rally and the counter protesters.

"We were curious what was going on and wanted to see what would be said," said Costa. She said she was disgusted by the behavior of the anti-Israel protesters. "It's like a train wreck I can't stop watching. I feel bad for everyone speaking."

The rally was followed by a march along Harvard Avenue and then down Beacon Street to Temple Ohabei Shalom.

May Long, the founder of CJUI, said the protesters didn't interfere with the march.

"The demonstrators got closer to us en route, but these are people I've watched over the year," said Long. "This is the same group that comes and screams 'Palestine to the sea' for 10 or so years."

Police said Baram's arrest was the only incident reported.

"The Brookline police are very efficient and strict," said Baram. "They saw everything and anything as potential troublemaking."

On Monday, Baram was pre-arraigned on charges of assault and battery. He said some people in the Jewish community have supported his actions, while others have not.

"Maybe it was counterproductive, and I should have ignored them," said Baram of the protesters. "But ugly anti-Semitic hate speech today is trumped by the free speech doctrine and is tolerated by the law."

Meanwhile, Long just marveled at the support for Israel. "I think the spirit of the day was just beautiful," she said.