DETROIT – A fifth person has died from their injuries after an attack at a synagogue in Jerusalem.
Two Palestinians armed with a gun, knives and axes stormed a Jerusalem synagogue Tuesday and killed four rabbis -- three of which were American -- and a policeman.
Rabbi Aryeh Kupinsky was one those American rabbis and once lived in metro Detroit.
"These four rabbis, all young rabbis my age, were praying their morning prayer service. The fact that this would happen in the midst of a prayer service, where we as Jews pray for peace, we pray for our people but we also pray for humanity, makes it even more tragic," said rabbi Joseph Krakoff.
"When he's engaged in prayer and totally non-confrontational, and is sought out by bloody butchers and murdered in cold blood, that hurts," said rabbi Michael Cohen, Young Israel of Oak Park.
The 43-year-old spent part of his childhood in Oak Park where he was a member of what is now called Young Israel, which is one of the biggest Orthodox Jewish congregations in Michigan.
"Rabbi Kupinsky grew up in Oak Park. He was here until he was 7 years old. He grew up at Young Israel of Oak Park, which is just down the street from where I live and its surrounded by so many community synagogues," said Krakoff.
The attackers were killed by Israeli police. It happened in an ultra-Orthodox neighborhood. Local rabbis such as Krakoff say this is not only an attack on Jewish people, but an attack on all faiths.
"It's not just against the Jewish people, but it's really a horrible mark on humanity, people of all religions, all God-fearing people, and really all humanity as a whole," said Krakoff. "It seems like each time we take one step forward, we take multiple steps backward. Yet, we still have to stay strong and stay firm and continue to hope for peace, to pray for peace, to work for peace, to believe that there is a hope for a better future among all people."
"The senseless butchering of innocent people is a tragedy and we are all victims of senseless hatred," said Cohen. "Hits very close to home when you know the person."
Local 4 has learned Kupinsky was in Jerusalem teaching and had a big family.
"He left behind five children," said Cohen. "He had a young child who passed away two or three years ago."
Local Jewish leaders are now in fear of a copycat. Many synagogues are beefing up security. Local police departments are also on alert.
"We always have security. We have a good relationship with police. Homeland security," said Cohen.
A funeral was held for the rabbis on Tuesday morning.