ST. LOUIS — The weight of the war between Israel and Lebanon continues to weigh on the hearts of many in St. Louis.
Saturday, multiple Israeli air-strikes hit southern and eastern Lebanon. Over the last year, more than 2,000 people have been killed in Lebanon in the conflict between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah.
It's not clear how many were fighters.
On Thursday, 22 people were killed following air-strikes in Lebanon's capitol city, Beirut.
Israel has escalated its campaign against Hezbollah, a Hamas ally, since the October 7, 2023 attacks. More than 100 Israeli hostages are still held captive by Hamas.
In light of these recent events, the Lebanese community in St. Louis came together Saturday for a festival in Crestwood. Hundreds celebrating faith and local businesses for the first time in five years.
5 On Your Side's Annie Krall spoke with people who have family both in Lebanon and in Israel about what support can be given from the bi-state.
Reacting to the last few days of violence in his home country is the pastor of St. Raymond Cathedral in downtown St. Louis and St. Elizabeth Maronite Catholic Church in Crestwood, Fr. John Nahal.
"Especially for the people, the families that are leaving their houses and their belongings and going to a place where they don't have anything," Fr. Nahal said.
He is also the president of Caritas Lebanon USA, the pastoral arm of the Catholic Church in Lebanon serving the poor and refugees while conducting work stateside under that mission.
"This is very difficult for them and for us here especially when we are far away and we see our people suffering," Fr. Nahal said. "So, we pray and we help."
Fr. Nahal was born in northern Lebanon but moved to St. Louis in 2017. A region far away from the Israeli air-strikes on Friday in southern Lebanon at the United Nations Headquarters that injured two peacekeepers.
As Israel urges more southern Lebanese towns to evacuate on October 12, the St. Louis Lebanese community came together at the St. Raymond-St. Elizabeth vendor fair to talk about the crisis overseas.
"People are being forced out of their homes because of everything going on," one of Saturday's vendors Gabby Sabat said.
Sabat's family owns Simon's Produce and Haifa's Bakery that sells at stalls 107 and 108 at Soulard Market. Sabat said one of her parents came from Lebanon, the other from Israel. She is first generation, plus has seen first-hand the war's impact on those who have called St. Louis and Lebanon home.
"We have a lot of people especially in the St. Raymond and St. Elizabeth community that are really affected by it," Sabat said. "They have a lot of family overseas. They're trying to leave and get out before something happens. But you also have a good group of people that it's their homes. They don't want to leave. It's a really hard time."
The two parishes put on an Autumn Harvest Festival Saturday for 34 vendors. They haven't been able to put one together since 2018.
It was volunteer Autumn Laux's first time at the festival as she helped Sabat sell pumpkins with Simon's Produce.
"I love it so much because it just feels like you have such a strong sense of community between the parishes," Laux said. "Also, just being part of the Lebanese community is so nice. You see people who you've known your whole life and know your family."
Fr. Tony Simon, associate pastor of St. Raymond's Cathedral, grew a pumpkin that weighed more than 300 lbs, which he asked people to guess the tonnage of on Saturday. He's been blown away by the welcoming nature of the Lebanese community and the resolute fortitude he's seen in his parish over the last few months.
"People, with everything that's going on in the world, are longing for something to fill their heart," Fr. Simon said. "That's what we lack. You know where you find it? You find it in church. You find it with God. Whatever church you go to, it's going to help your community. It's going to help other people."
Many this weekend, continuing to pray for peace.
"Like St. Francis said, 'let me be a channel of your peace.'" Fr. Nahal said. "We are praying for peace in Lebanon, for sure Israel, Lebanon, the Lebanese people, the Israeli, the Palestinian, all of us. We need peace."
If you'd like to learn more about Caritas Lebanon USA, click here.
Organizers said they are already excited to host the harvest festival again next fall.