The ache of the latest conflict between Israel and Hamas afflicts many within the crowd Thursday evening on the Addison-Penzak Jewish Community Center in Los Gatos.
That’s very true for Tal Popliker Goldstein, whose cousin was killed when Hamas terrorists attacked the Nova music pageant in Israel Thursday.
“I wish no one would ever need to go through something like this,” mentioned Golstein. “Never, ever again.”
Golstein mentioned her cousin, Ram, was half of the pageant’s manufacturing crew. She added that, earlier than he was killed, Ram texted his mom that he cherished her.
Many within the crowd on the group middle Thursday know or knew somebody impacted, and got here in search of group.
“I know they’re far away. But it doesn’t feel like it. It feels like it happened in my own backyard,” mentioned Lisa, who declined to offer a final identify.
Local and federal law enforcement businesses within the U.S. shall be on heightened alert Friday, after a former Hamas leader known as for a day of “anger” to assist the phobia group’s assault on Israel.
“Our police department is doing a tremendous job monitoring the situation, connecting with community leaders, being out and engaged with the community. Visiting synagogues, Jewish schools,” mentioned San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, who was in attendance Thursday. “And they’re going to continue being active in the community tomorrow, and going forward we are going to take care of our Jewish neighbors.”
In San Francisco, a police spokesperson mentioned officers are making passing calls by locations of worship and different group facilities which have expressed considerations.
The spokesperson mentioned, partly: “We ask the community to alert the SFPD if they see any potential threats or suspicious behavior. At this time we do not have any information of any imminent threats of violence.”
And on a statewide stage, the California Office of Emergency Management launched a press release which reads, partly: “While we are aware of statements made about potential threats on Friday, October 13, I want to emphasize that no specific and credible threat to California has been identified at this time.”
Historically, related calls have yielded massive demonstrations within the Middle East however haven’t led to large-scale assaults within the U.S.
