SPOKANE, Wash. — Israel may be 6,000 miles away, but people in Spokane made their voices heard Sunday afternoon.
People in Spokane came together to stand in solidarity with those affected by the destruction and war in the Middle East. At least one hundred people flocked to Riverfront Park to rally in support of Israel. For some in the crowd, Israel is home and the lives lost are personal. People called and prayed for peace in Israel.
Rabbi Yisroel Hahn from the Chabad of Spokane County spoke to the images of death and destruction on the other side of the world.
"Shocking images that are reminiscent of our worst and darkest moments of the Holocaust," Rabbi Hahn said.
He said he knows there are people in Spokane's Jewish community likely internalizing deadly videos.
He reminded those listening, Jewish people have been constantly targeted, but their ancestors have found ways to rise above.
"Every single generation, there are those who seek to alienate us, to kill us," Rabbi Hahn said. "And there were two things that kept us, one is Jewish unity. And this evening our brothers and sisters, fellow Americans that are standing here together with us. The second thing that always stood with us was our faith in God."
The initial Hamas attack in Israel came at the end of the Jewish holy days. A weekend of celebration quickly turned dark, but Jewish leaders said that shouldn't take away from the Jewish identity.
Rabbi Hahn encouraged people to mitzvah, celebrate their religion and not be deterred from honoring their Jewish identities. Rabbi Hahn also said people can show their support for Israel by donating to families being affected and broken up by war.
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