Long Beach Synagogue To Host Stand With Israel Rally

LONG BEACH, NY — Long Islanders are standing with Israel as they face difficult days and weeks ahead.

In Long Beach, Temple Emanu-El is hosting an interfaith program on Wednesday night.

For Rabbi Jack Zanerhaft, the terrorist attack by Hamas over the weekend is troubling, if not totally unexpected.

"Throughout almost every period of history, [the] Israelite nation has faced a threat," Rabbi Zanerhaft told Patch.

While the rabbi is confident Israel will successfully defend its nation, he knows it will not come without a cost.

"You think of the families dealing with kidnapped family members, the horror and the fear of the unknown," he said. "It's hard to articulate the jumble of emotions."

Many refer to this as "Israel's 9/11," but Zanerhaft said the depravity goes to another level.

"There were no kidnapping of children or elderly women in 9/11," he said.

Zanerhaft's event on Wednesday brings religious and community leaders to show unity for Israel, "among all peace-loving people."

The rabbi is concerned about the "lone wolf" act on our soil.

"People get emboldened. If you have, sort of the contemplation, it doesn't take much to then push you over the edge to taking action," Zanerhaft said.

He said this gathering is a chance for residents from Long Beach and surrounding areas to "embrace an important message, not just for our brothers and sisters in the Middle East, but really what it means to come together as a community," Zanerhaft said.