CLEVELAND — During a major Jewish holiday, hundreds have been killed and captured during an attack by the terror group Hammas in Israel.

What You Need To Know

• Jewish Federation of Cleveland hosted a rally in support of Israel on Monday night

• Hundreds of people showed up to the event

• The federation said it will continue to provide support for Israel throughout the next days, weeks and months

Monday night, the Jewish Federation of Cleveland hosted a community gathering where hundreds of people showed up to show their support for those affected by the violence.

The rally was a somber event with community leaders, politicians and faith leaders in attendance.

 Cleveland native Ari Jaffe is currently in Israel. He flew into the country just a few days before Hamas attacked.

Jaffe said he has visited the county countless times, but this trip was supposed to be special. He and his wife went to meet their newborn grandson and celebrate the holidays. 

The celebrations were cut short when the country went under attack.

“We heard rockets fall all around us,” Jaffe said. “Rockets have continued to fly Saturday, Sunday and (Monday). My family and my friends are continuing to run to safe rooms in their homes so as not to be killed by terrorists from Gaza.”

 Renee Chelm, the board chair at Maltz Museum in Beachwood called this attack, was history in the making.

“There were more people killed on Saturday in any single day, more Jews killed in any single day since the holocaust, so you understand the impact of what happened,” Chelm said. “If you have to liken it to a 9/11, for the size of the country that Israel is, it was 9/11 30 times over if you take it by population.”