War in Israel; Wisconsin synagogue shows support, those in Holy Land

FOX POINT, Wis. - A crowd comes together in a show of support for Israel. They are mourning the loss of hundreds – and praying for the safety of those in the country. 

Thousands of miles away from conflict, the pain of war is being felt closer to home at Congregation Shalom in Fox Point. There, about a thousand people gathered Monday night, Oct. 9 in solidarity with Israel.

"This is not a Jewish thing, this is not an Israel thing, this is a human thing," said Mark Shapiro of the Milwaukee Jewish Community Center. 

The community mourned the loss of those killed – and prayed for the safety of those in the country. 

"Here I am in the Midwest and my heart is in the east and it’s painful," said Moshe Katz, who has family is Israel. 

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Katz has spoken to his family in Israel daily since the war erupted there. 

"Everybody knows somebody who was either injured or killed, raped or taken hostage. It’s that small a country and everybody knows everybody," Katz said. 

Katz shared the same heartache as many in the synagogue – confused and saddened. 

"This is, this is (chokes up) they have our children. They have our children in cages it’s not an option," Katz said. 

Prayers are not just coming from the Jewish community, but Catholics as well. 

"I want everybody to know that all the pilgrims are safe," said Fr. Roman Stikel of St. mary's Kenosha. 

Fr. Stikel is with 33 others from the area on a pilgrimage in the Holy Land. Right now, they are in Jordan. Stikel shared a message from the Archdiocese on Monday. 

"We made it out of Israel this morning. It was quite an adventure to get across the border in Jordan. It took a very long time, but we all made it and we’re all safe," Stikel said. 

In the room Monday evening, there is reflection and hope. 

"We’re all feeling extremely numb. Extremely sad," Katz said. 

The group not only offered prayers, but raised more than $31,000 for those in Israel.

Feeling the heartache

Earlier Monday, it was clear the war in Israel was impacting people in southeast Wisconsin. Some have not heard from family members or friends there. Others live in feat as the horror in Israel drags on. 

At the Friendship Circle in Fox Point, inclusion is at the center of the nonprofit. But when Executive Director Rabbi Levi Stein got to work on Monday, Oct. 9, the first thing he addressed was the war in Israel. 

"It’s something you have to talk about because you can’t ignore what’s going on," Stein said. 

Many of the staff at the Friendship Circle are Jewish and have some connection to Israel – whether it is family or friends. Stein's niece is there now for school.

"She’s like they are sleeping in a bunker. There’s sirens going off every day, all day," Stein said. 

Stein's niece is OK. But Stein said the war is taking an emotional toll on the people in Wisconsin – people like Terry Miller. 

"It’s very close to home. I was actually in Israel three times last year," Miller said.

Miller found out about the war when she was coming home from the synagogue over the weekend. She said police drove past her – heading towards the synagogue. Miller thinks it was a precautionary safety measure. 

"It’s terrifying. It’s totally discombobulating – it’s so upsetting it’s almost hard to talk about it," Miller said. 

Miller has several friends who are in Israel – some she has heard from, but not everyone. 

"Some of my friends who have not answered…I don’t know how they are," Miller said. 

The war is leaving the Jewish community in southeast Wisconsin unsettled and feeling unsafe. That is why Stein hopes to bring something positive to the community – like solidarity. 

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"Use this tragedy as an opportunity to unite and do something good in return," Stein said.