Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - "The support was overwhelming," said Rabbi Mendy Labkowski, Executive Director & Rabbi of Chabad Center For Jewish Life of Buffalo.
Labkowski organized a Western New York Stands with Israel rally this past weekend in Niagara Square in downtown Buffalo as the fighting continues between Hamas and Israel. On WBEN Monday, he said it was beyond all of his expectations.
"The amount of people that came out, despite the rain," Labkowski said, "from both the Jewish community and the non-Jewish community, was really amazing."
He said when something happens, such as a war between Israel and Hamas, the natural thing to do is to come together and stand together.
"We are in a world with so much divisiveness, so much darkness, and unfortunately it takes a time like this to shake us to our core and bring us together."
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Labkowski said people were scared to leave their homes. "The message I gave them was that we need to come together. By staying home, we're giving into the terrorists that did these horrific acts. As a community leader, I am so proud of the people who put their fear aside, and came out to show support and be as one."
The Rabbi said he was asked over and over again, do you know anybody impacted? Are you connected to anybody?
"I have 7 million brothers and sisters living in Israel. The Jewish nation is one people. Most people in Buffalo know somebody who has been directly affected by this, either siting in a bomb shelter or has been called up to the Reserves, or know someone who is a hostage in Gaza. That's how close this community is."
There is a heightened state of alert in the U.S. especially around synagogues. Rabbi Labkowski called it a very challenging time.
"To me," he said, "the message is that we have to stay positive through joy. I know that sounds funny during a scary and devastating time. But we have to stay positive and joyous. Only through that will we be able to move forward."