Gathering to show solidarity for Israel, Augusta’s Adas Yeshurun Synagogue hosted an evening community service to honor the suffering of those attacked last week.
On Saturday, Oct. 7, Hamas – an Iranian-backed terrorist organization – launched a surprise attack, firing thousands of rockets into Israel using paragliders.
CNN reported hundreds of people have been confirmed dead with thousands more wounded. In response, Israel later launched air strikes on Gaza, Palestinian territory, while Israeli forces fought on the ground with Hamas fighters. As a result of the conflict, Hamas claims to have captured dozens of Israelis, including soldiers and civilians.
“The conflict between Israel and Palestine dates back many years, but the recent escalation can be attributed to issues centering around Palestinian rights and access to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which has had some restrictions recently because of violence between the two sides,” stated a press release from Augusta University about the issue.
According to AU’s press release, Hamas attacks have been fueled by a belief of injustice regarding “unwarranted and illegal Israeli settlements being extended into Palestinian territory.”
With Israel maintaining a blockade on the Gaza Strip for over a decade, Hamas decided to attack during a Jewish holiday that is part of the holy days of Shabbat known as “Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah,” which has mirrored the Yom Kippur War that began on Oct. 6, 1973.
In partnership with the Jewish Community Center and Federation of Augusta, the Adas Yeshurun Synagogue, the Chabad of Augusta and the Congregation Children of Israel, several rabbis attended and spoke in support of Jews far and wide.
At 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 12, Augusta’s Jewish community and other supporters congregated at Adas Yeshurun Synagogue, located at 935 Johns Road, to speak on various ways to support Israeli efforts.
During the service, various rabbis shared stories and read poems and letters from prestigious figures.
“The senseless acts of violence we’ve watched unfold over the last several days show that Hamas’ cruelty knows no bounds. Israel has every right to continue defending themselves against an act of pure evil and America must stand with Israel,” read Rabbi David Sirull, from the Adas Yeshurun Synagogue, as he read a letter from Congressman Rick Allen.
Rabbi Remy Liverman, from the Congregation Children of Israel, followed Sirull’s reading by sharing her own personal experiences within Israel and her time in seminary.
Speaking of the country’s unmatched spiritual unity and respect, Liverman said generations of Israelis have known conflict, but have maintained hope for peace.
“It can be argued that the ‘collective trauma’ of the State of Israel is not real; that it has been fabricated to serve political and economic profit and status,” said Liverman. “But the fact is that rockets are still hitting towns on the country’s southern periphery and sirens still sound … but Israel is still here.”
Knowing Israel might forever experience terrorism and conflict, Liverman said she has always believed that Israel’s people would prevail in the end, no matter what hardships were faced.
“Now, once again, Israel is deeply hurt. The people are in pain more than ever before in Israel’s 75 years as a Nation-State of the Jewish people,” she said. “The land’s been ravished again by violence and bloodshed and we can only call it senseless.”
Following Liverman, Sirull shared sentiments of love for both Israel and the U.S. because he believes both nations have taken a stance against “evil.”
“Every survey shows an overwhelming majority of American people supporting Israel, and that support is there because there’s something about the American people where they are able to distinguish right from wrong, good from bad, terrorists from innocent civilians, democracy from tyranny,” he said.
Stating Israel’s justification in fighting back against Hamas with any means available, Sirull said no one would tolerate the kind of violent tyranny the organization has incurred upon Israeli citizens.
“Is there a nation in the world that would not do what Israel is doing today? Is there any government in the world that would allow its people to endure this kind of bombardment, with no end in sight, and not respond? ” he said. “I don’t think so. And so I have no doubt that Israel is morally justified in responding.”
After Sirull spoke of America’s duty to “rise to Israel’s defense,” Rabbi Zalman Fischer, from the Chabad of Augusta, said the country’s citizens would continue to endure and grow from such hardships – as they have in the past.
“Make no mistake about it – a wounded tiger is still a dangerous beast,” he said. “A wounded, weakened Israel is a fiercer one, and to those who try to intimidate us … we are here gathered in unity tonight to remind you that the Jewish people are a single person with many faces.”
Ending the event with a prayer of “redemption,” “truth” and “triumph,” attending participants left the synagogue exchanging hugs and tears of collective support.
However, not all in attendance were present at the gathering to show solidarity for Israel. Just outside the synagogue doors, a lone peaceful protester stood while waving a Palestinian flag.
Mahmoud Hijaz, a native Palestinian and American citizen, said he felt news coverage was unfairly only highlighting the Israeli point of view and spreading possible rumors about Muslim violence.
“It’s just one-sided, and there’s a lot of lies going on,” he said. “For example, the story about the beheaded babies – they haven’t confirmed that … I want to tell people that everything they hear on the news is not true,” he said. “It made us look like we’re animals or something. But we’re not.”
Siding with his home country, Mijaz said everyone has always been focused on the conflict, but not any solutions for the Middle East.
“What if the solution is freedom for Palestinians? That’s all we’re asking for,” he said. “We live under an apartheid regime where if you’re Israeli, you have all the rights, and if you’re a Palestinian, you have no rights. Basically, everything that applies to Israelis is the opposite for us.”
Mijaz said Israelis are able to hinder Muslim belief by denying believers entry into Jerusalem when all they want is peace.
“I can’t travel freely there,” he said. “We’re the people of the land, so why can’t I go visit Jerusalem?”
Unlike Mijaz, David Alalof, a member of Columbia County’s Board of Education and longlife Jew, said he was thrilled to have so much support within the community and felt touched so many personally reached out to him to offer solace.
“You wouldn’t believe the amount of phone calls I got this past week of people asking how they could help me,” he said. “This has just been wonderful.”
Citing several ways to help, the gathering encouraged supporters to also light Shabbat candles Friday evening at 6:39 p.m. to show a united front for Jewish people in the CSRA.
