Photo: Leonhard Simon / Getty Images News / Getty Images
The attack on Israel by Hamas has South Florida's Jewish community hurting.
"It's terrorism. It's barbaric and it's inhumane."
Boca Raton Synagogue President Dan Kaskel was in Tel Aviv with his family when it happened.
“There was a siren outside. There was an alarm in the hotel and an announcement luckily in English saying everyone please proceed to the nearest bomb shelter. Takes a few seconds to know they’re not kidding.”
Rabbi Alon Levkovitz at Temple Beth Am in Jupiter tells CBS 12 News that Israel is part of the Jewish identity so when something happens there, local Jews take it personally.
“Israel is part of the Jewish identity of most Jewish people, and in our area, there are so many Jewish people, and when something happens in Israel, they take it personally. Israel is us. It's about us, and we were attacked.”
Some Jewish organizations in Palm Beach County have been coming together to pray with the community and some are doing even more to help.
The Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County and Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County have both pledged to provide aid to those affected through the Israel Terror Relief Fund and Israel Emergency Campaign, respectively.
The groups aim to provide shelter and security, safety for senior or disabled and trauma support.
The Federation of Palm Beach County's news release called on the community to come together in times like these, whether you are able to contribute to the relief effort or not.