ST. GEORGE — Hundreds of people gathered Wednesday evening at the Town Square Park for a rally supporting the local Jewish community following the onset of war between Israel and Hamas that has seen thousands of people on both sides of the conflict displaced, injured or killed.

Speakers at the event, which was organized by the Chabad Jewish Center of Southern Utah, asked people to pray for hope and unity for those in Israel impacted by the war as well as locally. Included were calls to fill the world with light to dispel the darkness and evil through acts of kindness.

“It’s great to see so many of you here, but I wish we didn’t have to be here,” St. George Mayor Michele Randall told the crowd. “Hate and evil can’t exist in our community. Antisemitism cannot exist in our community. All faiths belong in our community. We all have to reach out to our neighbors. Love each other, check on each other. What we can do now for Israel is pray for them … but locally we can pray for our community as well.”

Over 200 people gathered at the Town Square for the rally. Among them were members of the area’s Jewish community along with city and county civic leaders. All three members of the Washington County Commission were present, as were elected officials from St. George, Washington City, Santa Clara, Ivins, Hurricane, Kanab, Cedar City and Mesquite. Representatives of various faiths and the St. George Interfaith Council also attended.

A handful of attendees brought Israeli flags that either waved in the wind from poles or were draped over shoulders like blankets. Each member of one family – mentioned as having a retired member of the Israeli Defense Force among them – donned the flag, which prominently displays the star of David.

“This is a very important time to show unity and support when such evil takes place,” Rabbi Mendy Cohen, co-director of the local Chabad Jewish Center, said. “It’s very important that we do everything we can to make sure that these types of things don’t happen.”

Like other members of the Jewish community, Cohen said he has family in Israel who have been directly impacted by the Hamas attacks. He later told St. George News those family members lived in the city of Ashkelon, which sits 8 miles north of the Gaza Strip.

“This is very, very real and raw and it hits us to the core,” he said. “This is not the first time that someone has tried to kill us. At the end of the day, we will prevail.”

The Hamas attacks began Saturday during the holiday of Sukkot, which is meant to be a happy time, Cohen said during the rally. The attacks also came a day after the 50^th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War.

Music and singing played a major role in the rally as Fusion, a song group from Utah Tech University led by Amy Gleave, sang Simon and Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Waters” and other songs. The rally also included traditional Jewish songs of support, hope and faith.

Jewish prayers were also offered. Among them was the Mi Cheberach, a prayer asking God for healing and strength.

Sharing a message from Utah Gov. Spencer Cox was Kristy Pike, director of the Washington County Children’s Justice Center. Prior to sharing the governor’s message, she asked the crowd to keep children caught up in the war in their prayers.

“Children do not thrive in chaos,” she said. “I would ask each of us here today to commit to go back to our homes, and as we pray for Israel, pray specifically and with intention for the children and the families caught up in this senseless horrific violence.”

The governor’s message follows:

We stand with unwavering support for Utah’s Jewish community. Acts of terrorism will not be tolerated and are unconscionable. Utah has a longstanding relationship with Israel and we will stand by our ally, our family, as they as face the aftermath of an unjust attack on their country and their people. Our hearts go out to all those affected by this act of terrorism. Israel and its people will be in our prayers.

Cohen recounted how those attacking Israel or supported their actions said the Jews stole the lands from the Palestinians when their nation was created. According to Jewish scripture, the land belongs to God and he set it aside as a gift to the Jews, he said.

“These attacks are nothing new,” Cohen said. “This is our homeland and we are going to fight to the end.”

Elder Emerson Carnavale, an area seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also spoke at the rally.

“Our hearts were shattered as we learned of the brutal, senseless acts of terrorism against our brothers and sisters in Israel,” he said. “To our Jewish community, we say: ‘You are not alone’ … I urge you to be ambassadors of peace in our communities. We must be emissaries of love as we represent our loving Heavenly Father. We condemn any acts of persecution and violence against any of God’s children independent of their faith.”

Near the conclusion of the rally, Cohen told the crowd that terrible events can cause people to lose hope and faith. It is at times like that people can be there for each other the most.

“When we come together, we are there for each other, we’re keeping each other strong,” he said. “When you don’t have the faith, I will be there for you. When I don’t have the faith, you will be there for me… That’s what keeps us strong… We have each other’s back. We’re in this together and we will fight and eradicate the evil from among us.”

Following the rally, Cohen said it was amazing to see how many people came out. Seeing so many people from different walks of life come together in support of Israel and the Jewish people was very touching, he said.

“It was phenomenal,” he said. “We know with full conviction that goodness will win over evil.

What can you do to help?

Cohen said he’s had many people ask what they can do to support the people of Israel and shared three ways to do so.

• People who wish to financially support members of the Israeli Defense Force and civilians can make donations through the Chabad Center’s website here.
• People are being asked to commit good deeds, or “mitsvahs,” for others in their communities over the next nine days (as of Thursday). The goal for people to perform 1 million good deeds by the time the campaign ends. More information can be found here.
• People the world over are being asked to support Israel this Friday by lighting a candle as an example of light dispelling the darkness that has unfolded since the start of the war. More information can be found here.

Cohen told St. George News that the goal for Washington County is to raise $50,000 and commit 50,000 good deeds.

The Chabad Jewish Center of Southern Utah is also offering community classes on “Outsmarting Antisemitism” later this month. More information can be found here.

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