'Horrified and heartbroken': Jacksonville Jews bemoan violence in Israel, mourn victims

In Jacksonville and across the U.S., Jews and Palestinian Christians gathered at vigils and protests this week over the latest conflict between Israel and Palestinian militants.

Hamas attacked Israel Saturday, leaving at least 1,600 people dead, thousands more injured and hundreds taken hostage. Israel has since ordered a siege on Gaza, the impoverished home of about 2 million Palestinians.

"On Simchat Torah, a day in which we are supposed to be celebrating our Torah, we woke up to news of war in Israel," said Samuel Stromberg, chairman of Jacksonville's Jewish Community Alliance board of trustees. "We are horrified and heartbroken by these violent acts of terror."

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On Monday, Jacksonville’s Chabad of Southside and the University of North Florida held an on-campus prayer vigil for Jewish victims.

"I was devastated to hear the news. My mother-in-law lives in Israel and it defies logic to hear the brutality of the attacks," said Rabbi Shmuli Novack, director of Jacksonville’s Chabad of Southside and UNF. "Jacksonville’s Jews … are coming together in prayer and unity."

Also Monday, the Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network organized a rally at the Duval County Courthouse. The group supports the struggle for Palestinian liberation and wants an end to U.S. aid to Israel, the siege on Gaza and settlement expansion, according to its Facebook statement.

"This is the culmination of almost a century of displacement, occupation and ethnic cleansing in the name of the state of Israel," according to the statement.

The Jewish Federation and Foundation of Northeast Florida also planned a 6:30 p.m. Tuesday community gathering at the Jacksonville Jewish Center.

"Our hearts are shattered as we continue to watch our brothers and sisters in Israel in the midst of war," according to a federation statement.

Other area Jewish organizations expressed sorrow about the attacks, including LJD Jewish Family & Community Services, which provides a range of support services to people of all faiths.

CEO Colleen Rodriguez noted that "many children, women and elderly" are being affected by the violence. "Our foremost wish is for a swift end to the violence," she said.

The agency also has counselors trained to deal with trauma and available to local people distressed about the events in Israel, she said.

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The Interfaith Center of Northeast Florida condemned attacks on victims on both sides of the conflict.

"We mourn the deaths of Israeli civilians and pray for the return of Israeli hostages to their loved ones. The fact that this happened during a sacred Jewish weekend … only adds to the anguish," according to the center statement.

"We also mourn the loss of lives and property for Palestinian civilians and pray for their healing and safety," the center said. "All our scriptures speak to the blessedness of all who seek peace and we will work to be peacemakers."

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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Israel: Jacksonville Jews mourn, Palestine group rallies for liberation