Vigils to be held at local synagogue, on University of Missouri campus
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
On Thursday, Congregation Beth Shalom will hold a vigil at 7 p.m. to pray for Israel as a war continues to rage throughout the country.
And a University of Missouri student group will hold its own vigil on campus in support of Palestinians.
The vigil will be at 7 p.m at the congregation located at 500 Green Meadows Rd. and all are welcome to attend.
Prayers for remembrance and peace for Israel will be recited at the vigil.
The Mizzou Students for Justice in Palestine will also hold a vigil, this one at 5:30 p.m. at Speakers Circle on the University of Missouri campus.
Congregation Beth Shalom says they are increasing security at the synagogue ahead of the vigil as the Israel-Hamas war continues.
Even though Israel is over 6,500 miles away from Missouri, people locally and statewide are seeing the effects of the war.
On October 7th, Missouri House Speaker Dean Plocher and Senate President Caleb Rowden released a joint statement stating their unwavering support for Israel during this time of war.
"We reiterate our unwavering support for the State of Israel and its inherent right to defend itself against acts of terrorism and aggression. The terrorists and terrorist regimes that planned and are carrying out these unprovoked and vicious acts of violence deserve swift justice at the hands of Israel and her allies, including the United States of America," the statement reads.
Gov. Mike Parson also took to "X," formerly known as Twitter saying he, and the state of Missouri stand with Israel, and that the United States must as well.
On Monday, information was released that Boone County native Deborah Matias, who was living in Israel died while trying to shield her son from Hamas gunfire. The son is expected to recover.
On Wednesday, ABC 17 News reported that several members of a church in Moberly are stuck in Israel due to flights being cancelled because of the war. The Iowa church group they were traveling with says they have all made it out of Israel.
However ABC 17 News has not yet been able to confirm that the people from the Moberly church have made it out.
This is the largest attack on Israel in over half a century with at least 1,200 people dead as a result of Hamas attacks.
