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Dozens Pray For Peace At New England Holocaust Memorial

BOSTON (CBS) -- One day after gunfire broke out at a California synagogue, several people gathered together at the New England Holocaust Memorial to stand in solidarity with the Jewish community.

Rabbi Hirschy Zarchi from the Chabad of Cambridge said, "In Poway, Pittsburgh or Jerusalem - we are targeted simply for being Jewish... At the same time, we can't give in to panic and bitterness."

The Poway, California shooting left a 60-year-old woman dead and three others injured.

Gov. Charlie Baker joined the dozens mourning on Sunday evening.

"I simply can't imagine what it must be like to get up in the morning and discover that somebody has been shot and killed or injured in a house of worship, simply because they share the same religion that you do. Or the same race, or the same creed, or the same ethnicity," he said.

vigil
The vigil at the New England Holocaust Memorial Sunday. (WBZ-TV)

In the wake of tragedy, Layah Kranz Lipsker from the Chabad of Cambridge said group prayer is a step towards healing.

"People want to gather. I think it's a time where you want to be with others and raise your voice and say this needs to end," she said.

The Islam Society in Boston felt a similar pain after 42 people were shot and killed at a mosque in New Zealand. On Sunday, they held an "open mosque" day to help people meet their Muslim neighbors.

"It's very important to have that open dialogue how do we bridge the gap, how do we bring out differences closer," said volunteer E'Atimad Rizk.

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