BRADLEY BEACH – The Agudath Achim Congregation hosted a service on Tuesday, Oct. 17, in memory of the lives that were lost in Israel during the recent Hamas attacks. Residents of Bradley Beach joined together to stand against the tragedies occurring in the world.
Rabbi Maury Kelman led the solidarity service in song and prayer.
Residents from Bradley Beach and neighbors joined together to support Israel, and members of the Bradley Beach Police Department and Mayor Larry Fox came out to show their support, along with candidates running for New Jersey Assembly.
Rabbi Kelman said one does not have to be affiliated with the religion or beliefs to show support towards the lives that have been lost in Israel.
Rabbi Kelman said, “This is a wonderful community and we hope for better days. We appreciate all the people who came out to stand with us.”
Members of the congregation shared personal experiences of relatives of friends and family in Israel.
“This is a fight for justice and goodness,” the rabbi said. “For Jewish people, this brings back the worst memories that we have of the Holocaust, which was the worst event in Jewish history. What we see here is the worst in history recently since the holocaust.” He compared the recent massacre to “Nazism.”
Rabbi Kelman said, “This leaves the Jewish community with a feeling of violation, trauma, incredible sadness and fear as well.” He said the difference from the Nazis is they tried to keep their hate hidden, while Hamas streamed it for the world to see.
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