Israel is at war. What are neighbors in Malverne and West Hempstead doing to help?

The days since Israel declared war on Hamas have been marked by grief, fear and division — but some communities are coming together. Residents of Malverne and West Hempstead have supported their neighbors, as both Jewish and non-Jewish people express their solidarity and hopes for peace.

People of all ages and faiths gathered at Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church, in Malverne, on Sunday to stand with the Jewish community in the village and beyond.

“I’m so grateful for our village of Malverne that comes together to support each other and live the statement that hate has no home here,” said Rabbi Susan Elkodsi, of the Malverne Jewish Center, who led the gathering in song and prayer.

Members of the Jewish Center and Our Lady of Lourdes were joined by congregants from Grace Lutheran Church, Mayor Tim Sullivan and the village board, Assemblyman Brian Curran, State Sen. Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick and others.

“It all starts here, doesn’t it?” Reverend James Stachacz of Our Lady of Lourdes said of peace efforts. “In our synagogues, in our churches, in our homes, in our schools or workplaces and, most importantly, in the interior of our hearts.”

The atmosphere was somber, but resolute. Despite how divisive the Israel-Hamas conflict has been, everyone seemed to agree on one thing: a peaceful resolution was needed as quickly as possible.

“We pray particularly for our Jewish brothers and sisters,” Stachacz said. “We also pray for the Palestinian Christians and Muslims who are also innocent victims. We pray for those who are suffering. We pray for a swift and just end to this conflict.”

Elkodsi explained that not since the Holocaust have so many Jewish people been killed in a single day.

“Jerusalem is holy to Jews, Christians and Muslims, and the only way to make sure that all have access to their holy sites is to support Israel and her right to exist and to defend her citizens,” Elkodsi said. “For many, this may seem far removed — after all, it’s half a world away. But it won’t stay there.”

Local leaders took to the podium to express their solidarity. “This display here today — in particular, what we’ve seen across the world, is that we are with you,” Mayor Sullivan said. “We are thinking of you. We are praying for you.”

He added that the board had pledged village support, including Malverne police presence, for anything the faith community might need.

“It’s a time to stand in solidarity with Israel and its citizens without reservations or conditions,” Curran said. He called for people to speak out against antisemitic speech, and for educational institutions that promote antisemitism to be defunded.

“May the murdering terrorists who perpetrated these heinous and cowardice acts be brought to justice, and may Hamas and Hezbollah be relegated to the ash bin of history,” Curran added.

Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, a resident of Malverne, traveled to Israel just last month with U.S. Rep Anthony D’Esposito and County Executive Bruce Blakeman to discuss how to better address antisemitism.

“We have to stay unified,” she said. “I know that every level of government is behind Israel. I can tell you that anybody that’s not will not get support from many, many people in various levels of government.”

Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick took part in the State Senate Republican Conference’s call for three Democratic Socialist senators to lose their committee assignments and leadership roles after they did not condemn the party’s promotion of a pro-Palestinian rally in New York City.

But first and foremost, the sentiments of those who gathered were with the people suffering in Israel and Gaza — particularly the many congregants’ loved ones who live in Israel.

“In the Jewish community, there’s no such thing as six degrees of separation,” Elkodsi said. “More like one or two. Everyone knows someone personally, or knows someone who does, who has suffered, who has died and who has been called to active duty this past week.”

Rabbi Art Vernon, of Shaaray Shalom in West Hempstead, has a daughter and six grandchildren living in Israel, including a grandson in the army.

“Almost everybody in the congregation has relatives, family, friends living in Israel,” Vernon said. “And so we’re deeply concerned about what’s going to happen to our family and friends.”

He said that while there have been attacks on Israel since the Holocaust, within living memory — the Yom Kippur War, for example — this feels “very, very different.” The community is filled with anxiety, Vernon said. They are glued to the news, particularly the 24/7 broadcast from Israel on i24, for any updates.

Many times last week, Shaaray Shalom joined other places of worship — including the Malverne and Valley Stream Jewish centers and Orthodox congregations in West Hempstead, including Young Israel, Anshei Shalom, Bais Torah U’Tefilah and others — to pray together and share their experiences.

“It’s a way of supporting each other, discovering that we’re all feeling more or less the same thing,” Vernon said. “We’re all going through this together, and it gives us all support.”

Bruce Blakeman, the first Jewish Nassau County executive, held a news conference on Oct. 11, and pledged police support for local Jewish institutions. Afterward, Blakeman met privately with rabbis who attended to learn more about their concerns. Vernon said that Blakeman’s concern was generally very welcome among the clergy, and that he had seen significantly increased police presence at Shaaray Shalom since Friday.

Vernon said there had also been a significant outpouring of support from non-Jewish neighbors. “It’s very reassuring that the people who are not Jewish understand our concern, understand the potential threat to us, and are going to do everything they can to make us feel comfortable and secure,” Vernon said.

He asked that everyone, regardless of faith, pray for peace in Israel and Palestine. “Whatever your form of prayer is,” he said, “pray for Israel and for peace in the region.”