BOISE, Idaho — Ahavath Beth Israel hosted a vigil for Israel Wednesday night filled with traditional songs and well-known prayers.
"It's an opportunity for our community to come together to be in support of one another," Rabbi Daniel Fink said. "Of our brothers and sisters who are in Israel, where many, many in this community have family, friends and loved ones."
Dozens of people attended the vigil, which lasted about 45 minutes. The Israel-Hamas war started Saturday after the militant group killed and kidnapped people at a music festival.
Since then, thousands have died. President Joe Biden called the terror attacks "sheer evil" during a recent roundtable.
"This attack was a campaign of pure cruelty," Biden said. "Not just hate, but cruelty against the Jewish people. I would argue it's the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust."
During the vigil, Fink asked people to raise their hands and share the names of loved ones they are worried about in Israel. Hand and hand was raised, and name after name was called.
"I came here tonight to be with my Jewish community," Sharon Ledesma said. "It's important for us. When we feel so far away, we can sometimes feel helpless knowing that there's so much horror going on so far away, and we just want to be together and hold each other in community."
Ledesma said she was in "complete disbelief" when the news about Saturday's attack first broke. She hopes peace within the region comes soon.
Those are sentiments Fink shares. During one of his prayers Wednesday, Fink prayed for innocent victims of the war, Palestinians in harm's way, Israeli soldiers and the people held hostage.
"Ultimately, of course, we're praying for peace," he said. "I also believe that peace is impossible while Hamas is in control. So, we're living with war and praying for peace at the same time."
While Boise's Jewish community will continue its traditional practices like Sabbath and services, Fink said everything will be "tempered with the loss."
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