Sabrina Bennoon, 21, was worried when she did not hear from her uncle and cousin for days.
“All my family is in Israel right now,” Bennoon said. “My cousins and uncles are fighting and God bless, God bless them, I hope they are OK.”
Bennoon was among hundreds of members of the Jewish community who gathered Sunday at Lake Eola’s Walt Disney Amphitheater to memorialize those who died the past week in the Israel-Hamas war.
“It is worrying not hearing from them for a little bit, so I just pray that the war ends,” Bennoon said. “I just got a call from them and they’re doing OK now. It’s a little scary over there, but we’re doing all we can here to try to help them.”
On Oct. 7, Hamas terrorists began a surprise attack on Israel that led to thousands killed, hundreds taken hostage and divided families.
On Sunday, the Israeli military said more than 1,300 people have died and 3,200 others are injured, while in Gaza the Health Ministry said over 2,600 have died and more than 9,600 are injured. The Israeli military said on Sunday over 150 people have been taken hostage by Hamas, including Americans.
The U.S. State Department said on Saturday at least 29 American citizens have died and 19 are unaccounted for.
The Jewish community gathered around the amphitheater Sunday singing, dancing and listening to messages from rabbis as Israeli flags were flown alongside American flags, calling for unity.
“I just want everyone to be together in the community because that matters; it matters a lot especially for everyone back home when they see us together,” Bennoon said. “We are stronger together.”
Jonathan Goldstein, 66, wore a sparkly jacket and wrapped himself in the Israeli flag.
“It’s unity not only between the United States and Israel, it’s for the world,” Goldstein said about the gathering. “The humanitarian effort of being united.”
Goldstein said he woke up at 8 a.m. last Saturday to feed the homeless as he does every weekend when he heard about Hamas’ strike against Israel.
“Where is your dignity?” Goldstein said about Hamas when the terrorists attacked Israel on a Jewish holiday. “Where’s the sense of humanity?”
The amphitheater was guarded by about 12 Orlando Police Department officers on bicycles and more watching on foot. Laura Lee Brodie, who attended the rally, said that made her feel safe.
“I’m not afraid, especially with all the police support we’ve had,” Brodie said. “The highway patrol has been coming to our shul since the events happened in addition to our own security.”
Brodie said her shul in Altamonte Springs has increased security since Hamas attacked Israel last week.
“It’s really comforting that they recognize that they want to protect us,” Brodie said. “That’s really a lot of inspiration.”
Sunday’s gathering at the amphitheater followed another downtown Orlando rally on Saturday that brought together hundreds of Palestinians calling for support for those living in Gaza.
