‘This needs to be stopped:’ Myrtle Beach Jewish population pleads for end to year of violence

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) — Tens of thousands of Israelis took to the streets on Sunday to mourn the death of six more hostages found in Gaza, demanding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reach a cease fire to ensure the lives of remaining captives.

As the country’s war against Hamas nears its one-year anniversary, Myrtle Beach’s Jewish population is joining in the calls for an end to the violence.

Eli Habibi, an active duty Israeli Defense Forces solider currently on leave, fears for the safety of friends still battling on the front lines.

“You can see, with Jewish communities all over the world, they’ll feel that if something happens in Israel, Jews around the world will feel it,” the Myrtle Beach resident said.

Israeli forces identified Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23; Ori Danino, 25; Eden Yerushalmi, 24; Almog Sarusi, 27; and Alexander Lobanov, 33 as the victims. All were taken from the Re’im music festival on Oct. 7.

Rabbi Doron Aizenman of Chabad Myrtle Beach says the assault filled him with a sadness that remains today.

“People call me devastated. When you deal with such inhuman terrorists, and then lose lives, it makes everybody go with their head down, losing hope,” he said. “For 11 months, every gathering and every prayer started and ended with the well-being of the kidnapped people.”

Their pictures hung on street facing windows — with names underneath their smiling faces.

Cease-fire negotiations have dragged on for months . Many blame Netanyahu for failing to reach a deal, which opinion polls show a majority of Israelis favor. But the prime minister also has significant support for his strategy of “total victory” against Hamas, even if a deal for the hostages has to wait.

Pressie Shamah, an Israeli native who moved to Myrtle Beach in 1984, worries for the peace of her homeland and her loved ones still living there.

“Our hearts go out to the families, and we wished for all this nonsense and pain and heartbreak to stop. It’s been going on for ages and years. Because of political or any other reasons, I cannot say why,” she said. “The only thing that matters is it needs to be stopped.”

President Joe Biden on Monday added his voice to those calling on Netanyahu to close the deal.

Pressie’s daughter, Shamah, hopes more people will take time to learn about the conflict.

“I think coming from a small town, a small Jewish community, it’s important that people are educated,” she said. “And I think that’s what this past year has shown me, is how we need to spread awareness.”

South Carolina is home to roughly 8,160 Jewish people — about three-tenths of the state’s overall population.

Shamah hopes brighter days are ahead for her people even as the war drags on.

“I think that’s what we need, to be stronger as a community. As a people, as a nation, and just to unite from this and come together and bring awareness to the world as best we can,” Shamah said.

Shamah recalled her time as the only student at St. James Middle School.

“There was one time where one kid threw a crumpled piece in my locker. I opened it up and was just notes about Nazis and how they had killed Jewish people,” he said.

Aizenman said the strife happening now in Israel has been one of the most trying times of his life.

“The truth is, what I did not know in 38 years of being a rabbi here is being so challenged. I need to reach deeper into my faith to find answer for these times. What can I tell the people,” he said.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this story.

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