It's been another day of concerned eyes on global headlines.
As Milwaukee's Jewish community prepares for Rosh Hashanah, Roberta Clark of the city's Jewish Federation tells TMJ4 that community support is especially important for this year's High Holidays.
"Right now, it's a time for the Jewish community to be together, to console each other," said Clark.
She says that consolation is essential following another year of global tension and conflict between Israel and its neighbors.
Watch: Jewish community calls for unity amid conflict overseas:
"It is upsetting, it is scary," Clark said. "We've seen so many people killed, we've seen so many hostages. We've also seen a lot of innocent civilians killed, and we are saddened by every loss. Israel has a responsibility to protect its citizens, and it's a very challenging time."
In response to reports of Iranian airstrikes on Israel on Monday and the rising rates of antisemitism, Clark says increased security will be a top priority for holiday services.
"We know that people often, unfortunately, retaliate in other places, so security is number one on our list every single day."
Clark tells TMJ4 that now is the time for everyone to exercise what she calls "radical compassion."
"We should be expressing ourselves, our concerns, our fears, but we also should be listening to others," explained Clark. "That doesn't mean we're always going to agree with another perspective, but we have to treat each other with dignity and respect."
As they strive for peace, like so many others, this community leans on each other to overcome uncertainty and persevere.
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