By Delayna Earley
The Island News
Religious and community leaders banded together on Sunday afternoon to offer support and prayers to those who have been affected by the war between Israel and Hamas during a gathering called Beaufort Unites in Solidarity: Peace and Prayer for Israel.
Roughly 150 people attended the event at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park on Oct. 29, to show support for Israel and make a stand against antisemitism following the October 7 attack by Hamas on Israeli civilians.
Guest speakers took to the podium to express their feelings about the war and why they are supporting Israel.
U.S. Representative Nancy Mace spoke about the day that Israel was attacked and all of the phone calls that her office received about Lowcountry residents who were stuck in Israel.
“Our office was bombarded with phone calls with friends and family of the Lowcountry,” Mace said. “We had about 20 individuals, Christian and Jewish, who were stuck in Israel and could not escape.”
She said that a member of her local office helped the families, and all 20 individuals are now back home.
The event, which was organized by concerned Beaufort County residents and not a specific synagogue or group of people, was the first public event to show support for Israeli civilians since war with Hamas began in early October.
Organizations sponsoring the event included Hadassah of Hilton Head Island, a chapter of the national organization, a Jewish women’s organization; The Savannah Jewish Federation; the Jewish Education Alliance; and Beth Israel Synagogue of Beaufort.
One of the organizers of the rally, Ken Hoffman, head of programs for Beth Israel, shared with attendees the story about a dear friend who lives in Israel and hid and prayed for hours until she was rescued from her home.
Beth Israel Synagogue in Beaufort, which is 105 years old, said that Jewish people have lived in the city since the 1760s.
Acting Beaufort Mayor Mike McFee sang the national anthem and spoke about how the synagogue shares a parking lot with his church.
The event was open to the public, but there was a heavier Beaufort Police presence to protect the peace as the rally took place on Sunday afternoon.
Delayna Earley lives in Beaufort with her husband, two children and Jack Russell. She formerly worked as a photojournalist for The Island Packet/The Beaufort Gazette, as well as newspapers in Indiana and Virginia. She can be reached at delayna.theislandnews@gmail.com.
