ISRAEL (WENY) -- The War between Israel and Hamas is in its ninth day. The conflict between the State Jewish populated state Israel and the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas is growing day by day. On October 7th, is when Hamas attacked Israel from all angles including ground, water, and the sky; thousands are reported to have been killed like Adar Eylon's sister Shira. 

  Adar Eylon

"We have finally got the message from the country, the army came into our home, knock on the door, and tell us that they found Shira's body in the woods after five days that she's lying over there," Israeli, Adar Eylon said from her home in Tel Aviv. 

Latest toll reported:

  • 1,400 Israelis killed
  • 2,750 Palestinians killed
  • 199 Hostages
  • 30 of 43 known Americans killed

Tel Aviv is 41 miles away from Jersualem where Sasha Ariv lives. She is wondering if her sister Karina is alive. Ariv was worried after she received a frantic phone call from Karina on October 7th. 

"She [Karina] called me [Sasha] and she said that she's in a bomb shelter and she's being bombed. She's a soldier and the base is being bombed, and she told me first not to tell my parents because she didn't know the size of the thing that is going to happen. Then she called them by her own. She said goodbye. She said me goodbye. She wrote to me on WhatsApp, 'if I won't leave, please take care of our parents and be strong for them all life. You are so okay. Continue to live life. She knew something bad is happening.

  Sasha Ariv

The Ariv family found out their sister and daughter were alive when her and others' capture was broadcast on TV. Karina was covered in blood, says Sasha. 

"Officers came from the military and they told us that they did some checking, I don't know what, they did because it's a confidential and they said that my sister is probably, held [by] some terror organization," said 

Co-President of Temple Beth EL in Ithaca feels that social media can help provide perspective and understanding of the horrific situation going on in the Middle East. 

"I think that this is where these social networks and can be really helpful just in, again, sharing resources and reach out to your friends at other congregations and other states and cities," said Co-President Alexis Simpson. 

On the other end of New York's Southern Tier, Rabbi Tom Samuels of Elmira's Congregation Kola Ami adds ways to support the developing situation.

"Prayer is a way to come together and to share with others, and to know that we're not alone, that we have community," says Rabbi Samuels. "I'd recommend getting together with your community, your church, mosque, synagogue, your CrossFit group, whatever it is, and share what you're feeling, not the politics."

Islamaphobia is another issue just like potential synagogue terrorist attacks. On Saturday, October 14th in Chicago, Illinois a 6-year-old Muslim, Wadea Al Fayoume, was stabbed 26 times by the family's landlord. Wadea's Mother, Hanaan Shahhin also was injured with more than a dozen stab wounds.

The situation in the Middle East is on-going and at this time there is no resolution.