Dozens gather in prayer to support Israel, Utah's Jewish community

PLEASANT GROVE — Dozens of people gathered at a community event to pray, write cards for soldiers and commit to good deeds in honor of those fighting in Israel.

Rabbi Chaim Zippel, co-director of the Chabad of Utah County, hosted Tuesday evening's event in Pleasant Grove as a way to bring people together to support Israel. He and his wife were in Israel celebrating with family when the war between Israel and Hamas first broke out.

"As heartbroken as all are over what's happening in Israel, we are here tonight to actually try to take a very positive perspective and positive spin on what's going on," Zippel said. "The job that we have here is to add in goodness and kindness. At the same time that there is a physical war happening in Israel right now, there is a spiritual war that's happening."

Zippel said in times of crisis, the Jewish people turn to prayer, scripture and charity. The event's program followed that tradition with prayers shared for the soldiers and victims, Torah passages read and donations made.

"People are very distressed and distraught over what's going on in the Middle East, and the terror and all the victims that have fallen to the terrorist attacks. We are taught that we are not sitting here helplessly by; there's a lot of action we could be taking," Zippel said.

Part of the event included a campaign of mitzvahs, where people pledged to do good deeds. He said that although people might worry their small actions won't have an impact, miracles can still be accomplished.

"We are assured that our actions absolutely make a difference," Zippel said. "We are 100% not helpless. There is a lot we can do, and a lot we should do here from our own community in Utah County."

He spoke of how the Chabad of Utah County did a massive campaign of mitzvahs before the war in 1967 and "we saw open miracles in that war of how things ended quickly, and it was amazing. We are sure that miracles will happen — we just have to do our part."

Katie Jolles is Jewish and lives in Herriman. She said it was important for her to come to the event and show her support for Israel.

She and her husband visited Israel for a month earlier this year, and to think of those places being bombed is "just a horrible experience to us. And I just think: We could have been there when it happened." She said she was so impressed by all of the "amazing men and women" she met in Israel who served with joy and pride for their country.

"Whatever we can do to show our support in any little way, we need to show our support and stand up for Israel," Jolles said.

She said having community events is important because it brings the Jewish community together. Unlike in New York, where there is a large community of Jews in Brooklyn, "we are all spread out" in Utah, she said.

"The only way we get to come together, and realize how many of us there are and how strong we could be, is through events like this," Jolles said.

Yard signs that say "Utah Stands With Israel" were available and attendees wrote and decorated cards that will be delivered to soldiers on the front lines in Israel. "We are sending our love on behalf of a whole community," Zippel said.

In a video played at the event, a soldier from Israel thanked the community of Utah County for their letters, donations and prayers. "We are going to fight for you and for all of the Jewish people," the soldier said in the video.

Utah County commissioners Amelia Powers-Gardner and Tom Sakievich participated in the event and said the county is hoping to pass an ordinance soon about standing with Israel.

"We feel very strongly that our community — in particular, our Jewish community in this time — we want them to know they are supported. We want them to know we love and respect them, and that they are welcome here, and that we stand with them and their brothers and sisters in Israel," Powers-Gardner said.

She said when refugees and people who live here watch their home country being attacked, they can feel very vulnerable.

"We don't want them to feel that vulnerability here. We want them to know they are supported and they are safe, and that we will stand with them," Powers-Gardner said.

Sakievich said all nations have a right to exist, and when other countries try to destroy a culture or heritage of a people, "that cancer needs to be repelled."

"We, as Americans, embrace all cultures; that is the whole nature of the United States," Sakievich said. He said seeing this "cancer" creep in against Israel is alarming and "we want to express support for the land of Israel and all people."

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