Interfaith reaction to Israel conflicts before Rosh Hashanah

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — October 7th marks one year since the current Isreal-Hamas conflict began. In the wake of Israel's current battles with Lebanon and Iran, interfaith leaders across the Capital District are reacting as Rosh Hashanah begins Wednesday evening.

Inside the stained glass windowed sanctuary of Congregation Gates of Heaven in Schenectady, and hours before the Jewish New Year, Rabbi Matt Cutler prepares for the high holy days. 

“I need this holiday. I need the ability to look at life to confess to confess, to realize where we have fallen short, where others have fallen short, and where we need to work to build together” said Cutler.

Regarding security amid the Mid-East conflicts, and the recent college campus protests targeting Israel’s attack on Gaza, Cutler says things are secure physically. “We have a great relationship with our police department. We have outside security consultants," said Cutler. But not mentally. “The big fear I have with security is up here. My concern is that terrorism is going to win and people are going to stay away...That they feel easier to watch the service on live stream or Zoom than to be a Jew in the pews,” Cutler added.

The current conflict started last October 7 when Hamas attacked a Jewish festival killing over 1100 people, and taking about 250 hostage. Israel’s retaliatory strikes subsequently killed over 40,000 Palestinians. Culter says this tears at his soul. 

"As much as I'm a supporter of Israel and I love Israel, I also have to feel this angst and pain for the suffering that's happening in Gaza. It's a real problem" said Cutler.

Doctor Sohiab Chekima, Executive Director of the United Muslim Alliance of Albany, shares similar sentiments.

“All lives are sacred and no one should be killed just for the sake of political gain,” said Chekima.

“The lives that are being lost are irrelevant to time. When people lose their families they're not concerned about whether it's a holiday" Cutler added.

Rosh Hashana begins at sundown Wednesday and lasts for two days.