Salinas churches celebrate Israel’s 70th Birthday

Churches around Salinas gathered Saturday to celebrate Israel’s 70th birthday.

As the country is facing a trying time, organizers say there is no better time to show solidarity with the Jewish community.

Organizer Phillip Nava says “there’s never been more hatred and anti-semitism ever in the history of Israel as a nation. And we feel that if it’s been important in the past, it’s even more important now that Israel knows that there’s people, not everyone despises them, or hates them, but there’s people that love them for who they are.”

Close to 100 people marched through Salinas on Saturday then gathered to show their solidarity. There was also a guest speaker, Harold Gordon, a holocaust survivor.

Nava says while they do not hold these birthday events every year, they will continue to show support where it is needed.