It was a time to pray, reflect and come together in mourning at Temple Emanu-El in Manhattan Friday night.

“Liberate the kidnapped, among them babies and the elderly. And may every captive souls return without their bodies and souls ravage by horrific acts,” said Associate Rabbi Sara Sapadin.

Jewish New Yorkers attended Shabbat services for the first time since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, which has claimed nearly 3,000 Israeli and Palestinian lives.

“We are in Shiva, for these were our brothers and sisters in faith and spirit. And we are a house of mourning for all Jewish congregations are part of the congregation of Israel,” said Senior Rabbinic Chair Joshua Davidson.

Mayor Eric Adams addressed members of the congregation offering unequivocal support for Israel and the Jewish community.

“Israel has the right to protect himself, herself, itself. Whatever way we want to define it, that right is built into the spirit of the country in your homeland. And your military operation will complete that task,” said Adams.

New York City is home to second the largest Jewish population in the world — with 1.6 million people across the five boroughs.

“If you don’t feel safe here, where else can you feel safe? We have to change that course,” said Adams.

The surprise attack by Hamas on Oct. 7 left many asking, “How could this happen?” Ambassador Dennis Ross — who served as the special Middle East coordinator under former President Bill Clinton — sought to answer that question Friday night.

“This is daunting in so many ways because Israel was caught unprepared. I wasn’t just an intelligence failure. It was because the military was built up on the northern border,” said Ross.

He says the only way to protect the people of Israel and Gaza is by defeating Hamas in its entirety.

“There cannot be an outcome where Hamas is seen winning in any form. There must be an outcome where Hamas is seen as being decisively defeated,” said Ross.

He vowed to the congregation at Temple Emanu-El that the atrocities committed during this war will not be forgotten.

“This was the darker day in Israel’s history. There will be accountability,” said Ross. “That’s what democracies do.”

New Yorkers can expect to see heightened security outside places of worship as the war in the Middle East continues to escalate.

There are no credible threats to New York City.