COLUMBUS, Ohio — It’s been almost a week since Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel from Gaza. At least 1,200 people have died and thousands more injured.
In Bexley on Thursday night, members of the Jewish community gathered for prayer.
Rabbi Howard Zack, senior rabbi of Congregation Torat Emet, said prayer spaces like the one held on Thursday evening are powerful and bring people together during this difficult time.
"We're grieving, we're worried, we're concerned, we're hopeful, we're people of faith, and we're retreating to our faith to help the situation,” said Zack.
Those in attendance read the entire book of Tehillim.
"We're there with them and we know that this unfortunately is a situation that has to be undertaken,” said Zack. “Hamas doesn't represent the Palestinian people.”
Hours before, demonstrators took to the streets of downtown Columbus for the “Free Palestine” rally, hosted by The Ohio State University student group Students for Justice in Palestine.
"I think it's been very emotionally draining for anyone, anyone on social media seeing all the things happening,” said Fazal Suhail, one of the organizers.
Aya Mohammed, another organizer, said they are marching for the liberation of Palestine from the Israeli government and for the war to end.
"What we want people to understand is that we are here calling for an end to all oppression and all violence and that requires an end to the occupation. we're standing here, looking for an end to this war,” said Mohammed.
Those from the Jewish and Palestinian communities urge people to do their own research, and not what they see on social media as the truth.