For members of the Israeli community in Rochester, they say showing their support for the people of Israel is more important than ever.

"Because people understand that minorities will lose their freedom of speech and their ability to protect their rights,” said Sharon Shafrir.

Last month, tens of thousands of Israelis began protesting against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as his government formally launched its contentious plan to overhaul the country’s legal system.

Among the plans include a proposal to give the Netanyahu-dominated legislature control over judicial appointments. Currently, judges are appointed by an independent committee that includes lawyers, politicians and judges.

A second proposal would take away the Supreme Court’s authority to review the legality over major pieces of legislation known as “Basic Laws.”

Another proposal would give parliament the power to overturn Supreme Court decisions it does not like. 

Netanyahu and his allies say the country’s unelected judges have too much power and need to be reined in.

Protestors call this a threat to democracy. In Rochester, members and supporters of the Israeli community are standing with them.

“In Israel and worldwide we are extremely concerned that within four weeks when we’ll all be celebrating the Jewish holiday of Passover, which is basically a celebration of redemption from slavery to freedom, we will find ourselves living in an Israel that is no longer a democracy, is a dictatorship,” Shafrir said. “Which is why community members have been coming together to show their support in any way they can.

“We are here to just show the people in Israel that we care very much about what they care and we are going to help them,” said Yonathan Shapir.

And as communities around the world show their support, members from the Rochester community hope it can be felt in communities across Israel.

“My mother lives in Israel and she’s out every night,” said Mical Raz.

“When you’ve got so many people out there in the streets just scared for our future, then it’s really important for me to be here and show the solidarity for the protests.”

And as the fight for democracy in Israel continues, community members in Rochester and all around the world will also continue to fight.

“As long as it takes, as long as it takes,” Raz said.

They are sharing a belief in the power of democracy.

“And we will stand in solidarity to come out here and support them, so that they know that their friends and family across the world and in Rochester, N.Y. have their backs,” said Raz.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.