DENVER — Greater than a thousand folks gathered for a neighborhood vigil at Temple Emanuel in Denver Monday night to “Pray for Peace in Israel.”
Israeli officers say a minimum of 900 folks have been killed, together with a minimum of 11 People, amid the battle between Israel and Hamas.
Israel’s protection minister has ordered a “full siege” on the Gaza Strip following an unprecedented incursion into Israel by Hamas fighters. Israel formally declared battle on Sunday and gave the inexperienced mild for “vital army steps” to retaliate in opposition to Hamas for Saturday’s shock assault.
In Gaza, authorities say greater than 600 folks have been killed and hundreds extra harm, with dozens of Israelis taken hostage.
Folks poured into the temple Monday, with some wrapped within the flag of Israel. The emotional toll of the previous few days was palpable.
“Once we awakened on Saturday morning, to listen to the information of what had occurred in our holy land, it was like we had been being torn aside in three completely different instructions,” mentioned Senior Cantor Elizabeth Sacks, who can also be the CEO of Temple Emanuel. “Sadly, this isn’t an issue that’s distant or throughout the ocean. Everybody in our neighborhood is aware of somebody who is aware of somebody who lives in Israel. Many people know people who find themselves combating for the State of Israel proper now. And a few of us, sadly, know individuals who have been wounded and killed and brought captive in Israel.”
Dr. Dan Leshem, director of the Jewish Group Relations Council at JEWISHcolorado, grew up in an Israeli family.
“Being Jewish has quite a lot of connections to my identification at varied factors,” mentioned Leshem. “As somebody who feels linked to Israel, we have now seen battles and skirmishes occur quite a few occasions prior to now.”
The Hamas assault feels completely different for Leshem and the remainder of the neighborhood who gathered at Temple Emanuel Monday.
“The Jewish neighborhood right here, and the Israeli neighborhood right here, is watching all of this grotesque brutality again and again, and video after video. So, I liken it to how I felt on the morning of September 11,” Leshem defined. “They’re feeling terrorized on a person stage, and scared for their very own life in a means that I have not seen them earlier than, and scared for his or her nation. And that reverberates again to us American Jews, as a result of we’re used to seeing them be the one saying, ‘It is not that severe. We’ll be tremendous.’ And that is not the message we’re getting this time.”
Leshem mentioned most people he has spoken with prior to now few days are having to actively bear in mind to eat and sleep. Many live in unhappiness and worry.
“It is simply nearly not possible to relaxation. As a result of we really feel like it could nearly be unethical of us to relaxation whereas our brothers and sisters and cousins and aunts and uncles haven’t got that freedom proper now,” mentioned Leshem.
Leshem referred to as the Israel-Palestine advanced one of many biggest historic tragedies that the world has confronted.
“There have been numerous victims on each side. I really feel like they’re each caught in a cycle of violence and reprisals, the place it’s extremely troublesome for anybody to be a really rational actor, as a result of we’re coping with actually highly effective feelings of security and safety, residence,” mentioned Leshem. “There will probably be different days, and different situations the place our hearts and our energies will go to speaking about and ensuring folks know in regards to the struggling of individuals in different conditions. In the present day, we’re with our folks.”
Sacks mentioned one of many methods to assist the Jewish neighborhood really feel supported is thru gatherings just like the “Pray for Peace in Israel” vigil, which she believes exhibits that individuals care.
“We want everybody’s prayers. We want everybody’s focus and hope that this occasion involves a swift and protected conclusion in order that we will have peace in our holy land once more,” mentioned Sacks.
JEWISHcolorado has established a fundraiser to assist on-the-ground efforts in Israel. The fundraiser claims the cash raised will go in direction of “aiding victims of terror, addressing trauma points, and aiding with emergency medical and infrastructure wants.” A bunch of JEWISHcolorado donors mentioned they’ll match as much as $200,000.
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