What were they protesting?

Regarding “More than a thousand people demonstrate outside Teaneck synagogue over Israel-Hamas war” (NorthJersey.com, April 1):

On March 10, an estimated 1,000 pro-Palestinian demonstrators held a rally outside Congregation Keter Torah in Teaneck, which was holding an event related to buying property in Israel, including on the West Bank. Although the demonstrators were mistaken as to the content of this event — it was an informational session, with no property being bought or sold — the demonstration was understandable, given the juxtaposition of this event with the emotions associated with the current Israel-Gaza war.

In contrast, the event on April 1 at a second synagogue in Teaneck, Congregation Bnai Yeshurun, was a program honoring victims of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack against Israel and was hosted by Zaka, a private, nongovernmental organization that provides humanitarian assistance to victims of terror attacks, disasters and accidents. I must wonder, therefore, what these pro-Palestinian demonstrators were actually protesting. Were they trying to block Jews from attending events in synagogues? Were they upset that victims of Hamas butchery were being honored? Do they have problems with the work of Zaka, retrieving body parts of victims and helping survivors?

Although this demonstration was in response to this particular event, I can discern no event-related purpose. Rather, I believe that these demonstrators were attempting to intimidate the Jewish community in Teaneck, to tell it that they oppose any event related to Israel, especially one honoring the victims and survivors of a massacre.

Richard J. Alexander Teaneck