As Gaza and Israel exchanged rocket fire, the Chabad Synagogue in Fresno ushered in the Sabbath with a ritual candle lighting ceremony.“We will fight their fire with our Shabbat fires,” said Channa Zirkind.
Channa Zirkind and her husband Rabbi Levy Zirkind are nervous for their daughters.
Two of them are currently in Israel for college.
Other family members are living a few miles away from explosions.
“Our family is in perilous danger and the rockets are coming down and we know israel will be safe. god has promised us,” said Zirkind.
The Zirkinds added a special peace prayer to regular Sabbath services.
We have to band together by doing more good deeds and light the fire of goodness,” said Rabbi Zirkind.
The Islamic Cultural Center of Fresno echoed those prayers, and called for government intervention.
“This is our call for our government to aggressively interfere to establish this peace forever so families especially children-they don't need to be worried,” said Imam Seyed Ali Ghazvini.
Before the Sabbath, he met with another local rabbi for an interfaith blessing.
"We both express our concern for casualties among civilians on both sides,” said Imam Ghazvini.
No matter their beliefs...religious leaders everywhere agree it's a very trying time.
“Everybody has the power to brighten up the world one at a time,” said Rabbi Zirkind.
