(WSIL) -- Rebecca Marten sat down inside the synagogue and pulled out her phone to check social media for any updates on the war happening in Israel.
Up to that point Marten, president of Congregation Beth Jacob in Carbondale, wasn't personally affected by the attack. She was around to comfort others whose families or friends were caught in the crossfire.
That's until Marten checked Snapchat and saw her friends story. He was called away from his vacation to go into combat against Hamas, the militant group responsible for the deadly surprise attacks on Yom Kippur.
Marten let out a big sigh after learning her family friend--- basically a brother--- would be on the frontlines.
"We can't be there to help to fight for our country," Marten said. "We're all Jews. Whether here or in Israel we're all Jews. We all have a kinship towards Israel."
Hamas has attacked Israeli and Palestinian territories for years as a way to end Israeli rule and create a free Palestine.
Karen Uban, vice president of United Hebrew Temple in Benton, says the realities of Israel's place in the middle east are complex.
"It's very difficult for Israel," Uban said. "Both sides have to make very tough choices very difficult decisions. If it was solvable it would've been taken care of by now. It's really complicated."
Scores of pro-Palestinian protests are supporting Hamas' actions as a way of ending Israel's oppressive rules over the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and Gaza, the latter ruled by Hamas militants.
Marten believes more Palestinians want peace and not violence.
"We don't bow down to terrorism here in the U.S. Israel shouldn't have to either. This is something that has taken place for many years and it shouldn't have to anymore," Marten said.
