Beaufort hears a call for prayer and peace as Israel-Hamas war continues 6,300 miles away
Members of Beaufort’s Jewish community, which has deep roots in the city, plan to raise their voices in support of Israel Sunday as its war with Hamas enters its third week.
The Beaufort City Council on Tuesday approved the use of the pavilion at Waterfront Park for a gathering called Beaufort Unites in Solidarity: Peace and Prayer for Israel, at 2:30 p.m.
The Oct. 7 attack by Hamas on Israeli civilians has sparked vigils against antisemitism across the world while the subsequent bombing of Gaza has ignited pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
Sunday’s event in Beaufort will be the first public show of support for Israel in Beaufort, which is 6,300 miles away from the conflict.
Ken Hoffman, a member of Beth Israel synagogue in Beaufort, said concerned residents are organizing the event, not a specific synagogue. There are four synagogues in Beaufort County. Beth Israel’s synagogue is 105 years old but the temple says Jews have resided in the city since the 1760s.
“We really would like as many non-Jewish people, as feel affection for Israel at this time, to attend,” Hoffman said of Sunday’s event.
The gathering, Hoffman said, won’t be a “rah-rah rally.” “It’s really to show the area that people support what Israel is doing, because it’s very hard,” he said.
Area rabbis will speak at the Beaufort event as well as local officials including acting Beaufort Mayor Mike McFee. Area, state and federal representatives have been invited to the event, which is is open to the public.
Given the nature of the event, Beaufort organizers requested that the city approve the use of police for security, which was approved.
Police regularly staff events at Waterfront Park so the Beaufort Unites in Solidarity gathering will not be unusual in that regard, Deputy Police Chief Stephenie Price said.
The department, she said, will be ready.
“We are there to protect the citizens of the community be it for or against,” said Price, noting the 1st Amendment guarantees the right of people to gather peacefully.
This story was originally published October 25, 2023 at 12:48 PM.
