Residents of all affiliations and ages make their voices heard.

More than 450 people gaethered in front of the Rockland County courthouse to show - and sometimes voice and sing-their support for Israel at a rally sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Rockland County and the Rockland Board of Rabbis on June 6.

With a few outbursts from the crowd and an impromptu "Am Yisroel Chai" sing-a-long, the crowd seemed mostly in synch with the rabbis and elected officials who came to voice solidarity with the Jewish homeland.

"It's important for us to show our support of Israel now," said Sheila Zwerling, Nanuet, whose husband, Ben, held aloft a sing that read "Peace in the Middle East" and "All Israel wants is peace."

The rally was organized in response to recent events in the event surrounding its boarding of the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara, the lead ship of six in a flotilla organized by the IHH, a Turkish relief organization with ties to both Hamas and Al Queada, both known terrorist organization. Organizers claimed they were bringing in humanitarian relief.

Israel stated that it would not allow the ships to violate the blockade of Gaza, which has been in place since the Israeli solider Gilad Shalit was taken hostage by Hamas in 2006, but offered to inspect the cargo before allowing it into Gaza. On May 31, Israel warned the ships they were entering restricted waters. Five ships were boarded without incident, but on the sixth ship. Israeli soldiers were attacked, beaten and disarmed. In the ensuring violence, nine of those aboard the Marmara were killed.

Since then, Israel has come under severe attack in the press and condemnation from the worldwide community. The Jewish Federation organized the rally in response to general community sentiment that there was a need to show solidarity with Israel.

"Anytime we see extreme violence in the name of peace we stand up and shout, 'That is not okay,' said Rabbi Joshua Gruenberg, president of the Board of Rabbis. "It is the right of every sovereign nation to defend itself and Israel is no different."

Gruenberg passionately defended Israel's rights and its desire for a peaceful solution to the conflict on its borders.

"I pray for peace everyday," he said. "But until that day comes we will never stop defending our holy land."

Local politicians, their representatives and area rabbis stood behind the podium, including Rabbis Paul Kurland of Nanuet Hebrew Center, Rabbi David Berkman of New City Jewish Center, Rabbi Scott Bolton of Reuben Gittleman Hebrew Day School and Cantor Hal Rifkin, also of NCJC. Politicians included New York State Assembly members Ellen Jaffee and Ken Zebrowski, Clarkstown Supervisor Alex Gromack, Clarkstown Council members Frank Borelli, Stephanie Hausner, George Hoehmann, Shirley Lasker , Clarkstown Clerk David Carlucci, Judge Scott Ugell and County Legislators Ed Day and Alden Wolfe. Rep. Elliott Engel and Sen. Kristen Gillibrand were also present.

Carol Blau, the Federation president, gave an overview of the events leading up to the flotilla crisis, reiterating support for Israel.

"We need to have a large tent," she said. "It sends a loud message that we are not going to stand at the sidelines."

As she spoke, agitated members of the crowd interjected comments. "Eight thousand missiles,' shouted one person, as Blau spoke of the rocktst that Hamas has fired into southern Israel.

As the rally wound down, Bolton came to the podium with his guitar. Beckoning to tall the children in the crowd, he urged them to come up to sing. After strumming through "Am Yisrael Chai" (The People of Israel Live) and "Oseh Shalom" (The One Who Make Peace) he ended with "Salaam/Od Yavo Shalom Aleinu" (Peace Will Come Upon Us), a song that uses both the Arabic and Hebrew words for peace.

Marvin Baum, of Valley Cottage, came to show support and in part in response to White House Press Correspondent Helen Thomas' comments in an interview that the Jews should "get out of Palestine" and "go back to Poland, Germany." (Thomas, 89, has since resigned.)

"So may people, organizations and nations have been lining up against Israel,' said Baum, whose father is a Holocaust survivor from Germany. "It's important that those of us who support and know Israel stand up on her behalf."