With music, prayer and dialogue, part of Boston's Jewish community gathered in Wellesley, Massachusetts, Wednesday evening at Temple Beth Elohim.
"This is a tragic and solemn time," said Amy Gorin, who says she wanted to attend the event to show solidarity with the Jewish people of France.
The violence in Paris has shed new light on the growing anti-Semitism in France where in recent years Jewish people, shops and synagogues have been attacked.
Anne Miller, a French woman now living in Massachusetts, says she's proud that her country has come together but says there is still lots of concern.
"I'm sad," Miller said. "But I'm hopeful."
Many Jews in France have left the country, fearful for their lives.
"People are looking for a way to get out of a situation where anti-Semitism has run out of control," Robert Leikind, director of the American Jewish Committee of Boston, said.
Fabien Fieschi, Consul General of France in Boston, attended the gathering and tells necn his government is taking more steps to better protect its Jewish population.
Wednesday's event was organized by several Jewish organizations, including Combined Jewish Philanthropies, the Anti-Defamation League New England, Global Jewish Advocacy, the American Jewish Committee of Boston, and the Jewish Community Relations Council of Boston.
