The Paris attacks are striking a chord with the local Jewish community.
"We are horrified and sad," said Judy Diamondstein, Assistant Executive Director at the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley.
The French President has called the most recent attack on a Kosher grocery store " an anti-Semitic act".
"Tragically people who were there shopping just to get ready for Shabbat, to prepare for Friday night and to welcome the Sabbath were killed," said Diamondstein.
A gunman, allegedly linked to an Islamic extremist group, took multiple hostages and killed four of them. Later the gunman was killed when police raided the store.
"We were very concerned for a long time but we never expected anything of this magnitude to happen in Europe," said Aaron Gorodzinsky, Director of Outreach and Community Relations.
"Certainly in my lifetime, I have never seen such blatant anti-semitism in the world," said Diamondstein.
Back in May, 3 people were killed and one was seriously injured after an attack on the Jewish Museum of Brussels in Belgium.
Closer to home in April, a gunman opened fire at two Jewish facilities near Kansas City killing three people.
"We have been very concerned and we have been following the situation over the rising anti-Semitism," said Gorodzinsky.
According to the Anti-Defamation League, close to 100 anti-Israel events have taken place on U.S. college campuses so far this year.
Jewish students have been told to "stick their heads in the oven" and students wearing "Stand with Israel" shirts have been spit on.
Many believe this upswing in anti-semitism has flared because of Israel's conflict this summer with Hammas in the Gaza strip.
Here at home, local groups, like the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley, are hoping the tensions subside, but in the meantime are encouraging local synagogues and Jewish schools to be vigilant.
"When something happens in Israel or Europe we always tell our institutions to be alert because we have to be careful," Gorodzinsky.
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