SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Earlier this week, the Jewish Federation, along with the Jewish Community of Amherst synagogue and several members of the Jewish community throughout the pioneer valley, came together in solidarity at multiple locations including Temple Beth El in Springfield.

 “We’ve been coming together,” said Nora Gorenstein, Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts CEO. “We had some initial community gatherings in solidarity to be with one another to express our emotions at this time, and to know that we’re not alone and so that’s really been our focus so far.”

Gorenstein said it's been a very difficult time for herself and the Jewish community since the start of the Israel-Hamas War over the weekend.

"We met late in the evening to come together as community leadership," she said. "And discuss what we wanted to do and then we decided to hold these community solidarity gatherings in three different locations simultaneously in Springfield, in Northampton and in Amherst."

Gorenstein said many Jewish families in Western Mass including herself have family in Israel so there has been a lot of fear and anxiety when it comes to their well-being.

"We actually have a board member from our Jewish Federation," she said. "Who's still in Israel right now because her flight out had been cancelled so we're hoping she comes back to us safely and quickly, and well."

At least 12 hundred people have been killed since the Hamas terrorist attacks began in Israel.

Gorenstein said she is unsure how things will play out in the coming days.

"It's so hard to say at the moment," she said. "I know there have been a lot of folks calling for peace, calling for people to lay down their arms and normally we always want peace, we always talk about peace, we want a peaceful solution but at the same time, I don't think that's this moment."

Gorenstein said there are several ways people can show support for Israel including contacting local elected leaders to voice support.